RECOGNITION  OF  OUR 
FRIENDS  IN  HEAVEN 


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H.  HOFMANN. 

"COME  UNTO  ME." 


RECOGNITION  OF  OUR 
FRIENDS  IN  HEAVEN 


With  Extracts  from  Distinguished 
Authors  and  Selections  from  the  Poets 

P.  ANSTADT,  D.  D. 

ILLUSTRATED 
"  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you."    John  xiv.  2. 


FOURTH  EDITION 
P.  ANSTADT  &  SONS 

YORK. PENNSYLVANIA 


Copyright,  1895,  1907. 
P.  ANSTADT  &  SONS. 


In  Loving  Memory 
DEDICATED 

TO  THE  AUTHOR 
P.  ANSTADT.  D.  D. 

1819  -  1903 


"Father,  I  will  that  they  also,  whom  thou  hast  given  me,  be 
with  me  where  I  am;  that  they  may  behold  my  glory,  which  thou 
hast  given  me  " — John  xvii.  24. 


"He  hath  gone 
To  sit  with  the  prophets,  by  the  clear 
And  crystal  waters;  he  hath  gone  to  list 
Isaiah's  harp  and  David's,  and  to  walk 
With  Enoch  and  Elijah,  and  the  host 
Of  the  just  men  made  perfect.    He  shall  bow 
At  Gabriel's  hallelujah,  and  unfold 
The  scroll  of  the  apocalypse  with  John, 
And  talk  of  Christ  with  Mary,  and  go  back 
To  the  last  supper,  and  the  garden  prayer 
With  the  beloved  disciple. 
He  shall  hear  the  story  of  the  incarnation  told 
By  Simeon,  and  the  Triune  mystery 
Burning  upon  the  fervent  lips  of  Paid. 
He  shall  have  wings  of  glory  and  shall  soar 
To  the  remoter  firmaments,  and  read 
The  order  and  the  harmony  of  stars; 
And,  in  the  might  of  knowledge,  he  shall  bow 
In  the  deep  pauses  of  archangel  harps. 
And,  humble  as  the  seraphim,  shall  cry — 
'Who,  by  his  searching,  finds  Thee  out,  O  God!'  " 


Preface. 


On  a  visit  to  the  venerable  Prof.  Henry 
Ziegler,  D.  D.,  late  of  Selins  Grove,  Pa.,  he 
showed  me  a  number  of  manuscript  books, 
which  he  had  prepared  for  publication. 
Among  others  he  handed  me  the  manu- 
script of  "Recognition  after  Death,"  which 
forms    the    introduction    to    this  work. 

Recognition  in  heaven  was  a  favorite 
subject  with  him,  as  it  is  also  with  my- 
self and  thousands  of  Christians  whose 
friends  have  gone  before  them  to  that 
happy  land.  It  was  at  first  designed  to 
publish  Dr.  Ziegler' s  essay  merely  in 
pamphlet  form.  But  as  I  read  over  the 
doctor's  logical  and  Scriptural  argument 
and  became  warmly  interested  in  the  sub- 
ject, the  idea  expanded  in  my  own  mind 
to  the  extent  of  preparing  and  publishing 
this  volume. 


(9) 


PREFACE 


I  also  found  some  very  beautiful  and 
interesting  thoughts  of  other  men  in  books, 
from  which  I  gathered  extracts.  Among 
tliese  I  mention  Drs.  Harbaugh,  Schmucker, 
Stork,  Luther,  Melanchthon,  Knapp,  Cal- 
vin, Tillotson,  Doddridge,  Baxter,  Melville, 
Barnes,  and  Ezra  Keller.  And  finally 
extracts  from  the  poets  were  selected. 

This  is  not  a  sectarian,  nor  even,  in  the 
strict  sense  of  the  word,  a  denominational 
book.  The  sentiments  expressed  and  the 
hopes  entertained  in  it  are  shared  by  most 
Christians  of  all  denominations;  yea,  in 
some  form  or  other,  also,  by  "all  nations 
and  kindreds,  and  peoples,  and  tongues," 
of  all  times  and  all  lands. 

Says  Dr.  Harbaugh:  "Recognition  in 
heaven  is  not  the  belief  of  any  one  single 
sect,  or  of  a  class  of  sects,  but  it  is  the 
voice  of  the  Church.    Men  of  all  creeds 

(lo) 


PREFACE 


have  expressed  their  belief  in  this  doctrine. 
This  gives  it  a  lovely  catholic  feature.  It 
is  one  of  the  truths  which  utter  themselves 
from  the  universal  Christian  mind  and 
heart.  It  is  as  broad  as  human  wants 
and  woes.  Like  the  hope  of  heaven  it- 
self, it  springs  up  in  every  heart  which 
seeks  that  friendly  and  peaceful  abode." 

I  send  it  forth,  therefore,  with  the  hope 
and  prayer,  that  it  may  prove  a  source  of 
consolation  to  many  bereaved  ones,  whose 
friends  have  indeed  not  been  lost  by  pass- 
ing through  the  valley  of  the  shadov/  of 
death,  but  have  only  gone  before,  to 
welcome  their  loved  ones  to  that  happy 
home,  where  God  shall  wipe  away  all 
tears  from  their  eyes. 

P.  ANSTADT. 
York,   Pa.,   Aug.,  1895. 

(ti) 


PREFACE 


Preface  to  the  Fourtli  Edition. 

The  first  three  editions  of  the  book 
are  now  exhausted,  and  there  is  a  desire 
for  a  fourth.  There  has  been  a  steady 
demand  for  the  work,  which  will  doubtless 
continue  as  long  as  loved  ones  shall  be 
called  away  by  death  and  bereaved  hearts 
shall  sigh  for  a  reunion  in  heaven.  The 
book  has  been  revised,  some  important 
additions  being  introduced,  with  a  cor- 
responding increase  in  its  value  and 
interest.  It  is  now  again  sent  forth  on  its 
mission  of  consolation  and  hope. 

PUBLISHERS. 

December,  1907. 

(12) 


Contents. 

Dedication    7 

Preface  to  First  Edition   9 

Preface  to  Fourth  Edition   12 

List  of  Illustrations   17 

Poem — "Recompense"    18 


Introduction. 
Natural  and  Spiritual  Proofs:  The 
Domestic  and  Social  Relations — 
The  Universal  Hope  of  a  Future 
Life — The  Belief  of  Future  Recog- 
nition During  the  Old  and  New 
Testament  Times — Christ  Spoke  of 


It  as  an  Acknowledged  Truth. ...  21 

Bible  References   37 

Poem — "Morning  Land"    40 

THE  RECOGNITION  OF  OUR 
FRIENDS  IN  HEAVEN. 
Chapter  I. 

The  Immortality  of  the  Soul   44 

Chapter  II. 
Previous  Acquaintance  on  Earth.  ...  47 

(13) 


CONTENTS 


Chapter  III. 
Heaven  a  Place   1:2 

Chapter  IV. 
Memory  Preserved  and  Strengthened  64 

Chapter  V. 
Reunion  Eternal    74 

Chapter  VI. 

The  Language  of  Heaven   79 

Chapter  VII. 

New  Acquaintances  in  Heaven   90 

Chapter  VIII. 
Occupation  in  Heaven   98 

Chapter  IX. 

Pleaven  Not  Yet  Open  to  View   104 

Poem — "The  Gathering  Place"   119 

Objections  Answered. 

1.  The  Great  Change  which  Will 

Take  Place  in  Death    122 

2.  If  It  Were  True,  It  Would  Be 

More  Clearly  Revealed   130 

3.  The  Heavenly  Life  Will  Be  Much 

Higher  than  This   133 

(14) 


CONTENTS 


4.  It  Would  Introduce  Partiality 


into  Heaven   136 

5.  The  Love  of  Christ  Will  Occupy 

Us  Entirely   139 

6.  Christ's   Answer  to   the  Sad- 

ducees    146 

7.  We  Should  Miss  Some  Who  Will 

Not  Be  There   151 

Poem — "Not  Changed  but  Glorified"  160 


Extracts  from  Distinguished 
Authors. 
Luther,  Melanchthon,  Cruciger, 
Olevianus,  Scaliger,  Melancthon 
and  Camerarius,  Jay,  Paley,  Knapp, 
Tillotson,  Hall,  Melville,  Calvin, 
Newton,  Baxter,  Chalmers,  Dod- 
dridge, Zwinglius,  Fenelon,  Ed- 
wards, Schmucker,  Dodd,  Bunyan, 
Herbert,  James,  Lavel,  Smyth, 
Stork,  MacDonald,  Dwight,  Keller, 


Barnes   163 

Heaven :  Its  Negative  Features — .  . 

Its  Positive  Features    222 


CONTENTS 


Selections  from  the  Poets. 


Home,  Sweet  Home    225 

Jerusalem,  the  Golden   226 

And  let  our  bodies  part   227 

The    saints   on    earth    and  those 

above   228 

Blest   hour  when  virtuous  friends 

shall  meet   229 

There  is  a  place  of  sacred  rest   230 

My  Little  Comforter   232 

When  I  consider  life   234 

When  the  holy  angels  meet  us   235 

Over  the  river  they  beckon  to  me ....  235 

Not  Lost,  but  Gone  Before   237 

A  Mother's  Lament   239 

Christus  Consolator    240 

Reunion  in  Heaven   242 

The  Dying  Saint  to  His  Soul   244 

Sorrow  Not,  Even  as  Others   245 

Pilgrims  of  the  Night   246 

The  Land  Immortal   248 

Sweet  to  Die    250 

The  Saints  on  Earth   251 

When  God  with  Prophets  Spake.  ...  252 

My  Savior  First  of  All   255 

(16) 


List  of  Illustrations. 


"Come  unto  Me"  Frontispiece 

PAGE 

The  Transfiguration    33 

Elijah  Taken  to  Heaven    60 

The  Rich  Man  and  Lazarus   67 

Declaring  the  Resurrection   81 

The  Annunciation     92 

A  Ministering  Spirit    100 

Guardian  Angel   105 

Lazarus  Restored  to  His  Sisters  ...  123 

With  the  Family  at  Bethany   144 

Cherub  Choir   170 

Christ  Blessing  Little  Children  ....  181 

Jairus  Receives  again  His  Daughter  194 

Mary  at  the  Sepulcher   209 

Christ  the  Consoler    224 

The   Ascension    254 


(17) 


Recompense. 

We  are  quite  sure 
That  He  will  give  them  back — bright,  pure 
and  beautiful — 
We  know  He  will  but  keep 
Our  own  and  His  until  we  fall  asleep. 

We  know  He  does  not  mean 
To  break  the  strands  reaching  between 
The  Here  and  There. 
He  does  not  mean — though  heaven  be  fair — 
To  change  the  spirits  entering  there,  that 
they  forget 
The  eyes  upraised  and  wet. 
The  lips  too  still  for  prayer, 
The  mute  despair.    He  will  not  take 
The  spirits  which  He  gave,  and  make 
The  glorified  so  new 
That  they  are  lost  to  me  and  you. 


RECOMPENSE 


I  do  believe 
They  will  receive 
Us — you  and  me — and  be  so  glad 
To  meet  us,  that  when  most  I  would  grow 
sad 

I  just  begin  to  think  about  that  gladness, 

And  the  day 
When  they  shall  tell  us  all  about  the  way 
That  they  have  learned  to  go — 
Heaven's  pathways  show. 
My  lost,  my  own,  and  I 
Shall  have  so  much  to  see  together  by  and 
by. 

I  do  believe  that  just  the  same  sweet  face. 
But  glorified,  is  waiting  in  the  place 
Where  we  shall  meet,  if  only  I 
Am  counted  worthy  in  that  by  and  by. 
I  do  believe  that  God  will  give  a  sweet 
surprise 

To  tear-stained,  saddened  eyes, 
2  (19) 


RECOMPENS.E 


And  that  His  heaven  will  be 
Most  glad,  most  tided  through  with  joy 

for  you  and  me, 
As  we  have  suffered  most.    God  never 

made 

Spirit  for  spirit,  answering  shade  for  shade, 

And  placed  them  side  by  side — 
So  wrought  in  one,  though  separate,  mys- 
tified— 
And  meant  to  break 
The  quivering  threads  between.  When 
we  shall  wake, 
I  am  quite  sure,  we  will  be  very  glad 
That  for  a  little  while  we  were  so  sad. 

— George  Klingle. 


(20) 


Introduction. 


The  relationships  and  friendships  formed 
here  on  earth  are  in  many  instances 
very  intimate,  strong  and  endearing. 
These  attachments  we  come  to  realize 
in  their  fullest  depth  and  tenderness  only 
on  the  death  of  our  cherished  friends. 
Who  of  us  has  not  experienced  these 
undying  attachments  and  this  deep-seated 
sorrow  on  the  death  of  our  loved  ones? 
and  how  naturally  does  there  arise  in 
the  Christian  heart  the  comforting  thought 
and  hope  of  a  reunion,  recognition  and 
communion   in   the   eternal  hereafter. 

THE  DOMESTIC  AND  SOCIAL  RELATIONS. 

The  first  proof  and  assurance  is  found 
in  our  domestic  and  social  relations  and 
affections.   To  suppose  that  our  parental, 
(21) 


INTRODUCTION 


filial  and  fraternal,  and,  also,  our  social  at- 
tachments generally  will  be  eradicated,  or 
even  essentially  changed,  after  death, 
would  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  intel- 
ligent and  rational  beings  can  exist  with- 
out an  affectional  and  emotional  nature; 
for,  if  the  attachments  just  referred  to 
are  to  be  destroyed,  the  destruction  of  our 
entire  affectional  and  emotional  nature 
would  seem  to  be  equally  involved.  This 
is  inconceivable.  On  the  contrary,  the 
life  beyond  the  grave  must  be  a  perpetua- 
tion of  the  present, — we  will  carry  with 
us  our  characters,  our  principles,  our 
knowledge,  our  affections,  and  attach- 
ments, acquired  and  cherished  here  on 
earth.  But  to  perpetuate  in  heaven  the 
attachments  formed  on  earth,  there  must 
be  a  recognition  of  the  persons  towards 
whom  such  attachments  have  been  formed ; 
(22) 


INTRODUCTION 


that  is,  there  must  be  a  recognition  of 
former  friends  and  acquaintances.  Unless, 
therefore,  our  nature  is  to  be  radically 
changed — 

"We  shall  know  each  other  there." 

THE  UNIVERSAL  HOPE  OF  A  FUTURE  LIFE. 

The  second  proof  is  found  in  the  almost 
universal  hope  among  the  Gentile  nations 
of  antiquity  of  a  reunion  and  recogni- 
tion of  former  friends  in  Sheol  or  Hades. 
This  wide-spread  hope  can  not  be  ac- 
counted for,  rationally,  except  on  the 
supposition  that  it  was  a  tradition  trans- 
mitted from  a  very  ancient  revelation  on 
this  subject;  for,  if  reason  alone  could  not 
develop  and  demonstrate  the  belief  and 
hope  of  an  immortal  life,  neither  could  it 
develop  and  demonstrate  that  of  a  future 
reunion  and  recognition.    Of  the  former, 

(23) 


INTRODUCTION 


it  is  written  that  Christ  "hath  abolished 
death  and  hath  brought  life  and  immortality 
to  light  through  the  Gospel;"  and  equally 
true  is  it  of  the  latter,  that  He  has  brought 
into  the  clearer  light  of  certainty  a  future 
reunion   and  recognition. 

To  the  penitent  thief  on  the  cross 
Jesus  said:  "To-day  shalt  thou  be  with 
me  in  Paradise;"  Reassured  His  apostles 
that  He  was  going  to  His  Father's  house 
of  many  mansions  to  prepare  a  place 
for  them,  and  that  He  would  come  again 
and  receive  them  to  Himself,  that  they 
might  be  with  Him  where  He  was;  and 
of  the  rich  man  in  hell  (Hades)  He  declared, 
that  he  saw  Abraham  afar  off,  and  Lazarus 
in  his  bosom. 


(24) 


INTRODUCTION 


THE     BELIEF      OF      FUTURE  RECOGNITION 
DURING    THE    OLD    AND  NEW 
TESTAMENT  TIMES. 

The  third  proof  of  this  doctrine  is  the 
belief  of  it  during  the  entire  history  of 
God's  people  as  recorded  in  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments,  from  the  time  of  Abraham 
down  to  Christ  and  his  apostles.  In 
Gen.  XV.  15,  the  promise  was  given 
to  Abraham  that  he  "should  go  to  his 
fathers  in  peace;"  and  it  was  subsequently 
said  of  him,  and  also  of  Ishmael,  Isaac, 
Jacob,  Aaron  and  Moses,  that  at  their 
death,  "they  were  gathered  to  their  people.'' 
Gen.  XXV.  8,  17;  xxxv.  29;  xlix.  29,  33; 
Deut.  xxxii.  49,  50.  This  phraseology 
can  not  mean  that  these  patriarchs  were 
buried  in  the  sepulchers  of  their  fathers; 
for  Abraham  was  buried  in  Canaan,  far 
from  the  home  of  his  ancestors,  which  was 

(25) 


INTRODUCTION 


first  in  Ur,  and  afterwards  in  Haran, 
in  Mesopotamia;  and  Aaron  and  Moses 
found  their  resting  places  in  Mount  Hor 
and  Mount  Nebo.  The  only  conclusion 
is,  that  the  souls  of  these  patriarchs  not 
only  survived  the  death  of  their  bodies, 
but  also,  that  they  were  gathered  to  the 
spirits  of  their  fathers  into  some  place 
different  from  their  family  sepulchers; 
besides,  the  phraseology — "gathered  to 
thy  people," — and  the  hopes  of  these  men 
awakened  by  it,  seem  to  point  very  strongly 
to  a  conscious  reunion,  recognition  and 
communion  of  former  friends. 

Again:  In  Gen.  xxxvii.  34,  35,  it  is 
recorded  of  Jacob,  that  he,  when  grieving 
for  his  son  Joseph,  said:  "I  will  go  down 
into  the  grave  unto  my  son  mourning." 
Jacob,  crediting  the  report  of  his  other 
sons,  believed  that  his  beloved  Joseph 

(26) 


INTRODUCTION 


had  been  devoured  by  wild  beasts;  there- 
fore his  "going  to  him  into  the  grave," 
could  have  no  reference  to  a  place  of 
burial — it  is  intended  to  convey,  beyond 
doubt,  the  same  idea  and  belief  of  the 
former  phraseology — "being  gathered  to 
thy  people," — it  embodies  the  beHef  and 
hope  of  a  reunion,  recognition  and  com- 
munion of  souls  in  the  spirit- world. 

And  again.  King  David,  mourning  for  \ 
his  deceased  child,  said,   "I  shall  go  to  | 
him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to  me." 
2  Sam.  xii.  22,  23.    This  going  to  his  child  ^ 
is  said  with  such  assurance  and  emphasis, 
that  we  are  forced  to  refer  it  to  a  reunion 
of  souls  after  death — the  king  believed 
that  he  would  meet  his  child,  and  com- 
mune with  him,  in  the  other  world.  ^-^^ 

The  same  belief  is  expressed  by  the 
prophet  Samuel  when  he  was  called  back 

(27) 


INTRODUCTION 


from  the  spirit-world  at  the  request  of 
King  Saul.  His  address  to  the  King  was: 
"To-morrow  shalt  thou  be  with  me." 
I  Sam.  xxviii.  19. 

Then  again,  Christ  says:  "Make  to  your- 
selves friends  of  the  mammon  of  unright- 
eousness; that,  when  ye  fail,  they  may 
receive  you  into  everlasting  habitations." 
Luke  xvi.  9.  This  "receiving  into  ever- 
lasting habitations"  those  who  befriended 
us  on  earth  must  certainly  refer  to  some 
remembrance  and  acknowledgment  of, 
and  some  kind  of  return  for,  such  former 
services.  There  must,  therefore,  be  some 
kind  of  reunion  and  recognition  of  former 
friends  in  the  other  world. 

Once  more,  St.  Paul,  i  Thess.  iv.  13-18, 
takes  special  pains  to  enlighten  the  church 
at  Thessalonica  on  this  subject,  some  of 

(28) 


INTRODUCTION 


whose  members  were  evidently  sorrowing 
for  their  departed  friends.    He  says: 

Verse  13  "But  I  would  not  have 
you  to  be  ignorant,  brethren,  con- 
cerning them  which  are  asleep,  that 
ye  sorrow  not,  even  as  others  which 
have  no  hope;" 
and  then  adds  to  their  comfort: 

Verse  14  "For  if  we  believe  that 
Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  even  so 
them  also  which  sleep  in  Jesus  will 
God  bring  with  him. 

Verse  15  "For  this  we  say  unto 
you  by  the  word  of  the  Lord,  that  we 
which  are  alive  and  remain  unto  the 
coming  of  the  Lord  shall  not  prevent 
them  which  are  asleep. 

Verse  16  "For  the  Lord  himself 
shall  descend  from  heaven  with  a 
shout,  with  the  voice  of  the  archangel, 


INTRODUCTION 


and  with  the  trump  of  God:  and  the 
dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first: 

Verse  17  'Then  we  which  are 
alive  and  remain  shall  be  caught  up 
together  with  them  in  the  clouds,  to 
meet  the  Lord  in  the  air;  and  so  shall 
we  ever  be  with  the  Lord. 

Verse  18  "Wherefore  comfort  one 
another  with  these  words." 
Now,  what  comfort  could  it  be  to 
the  bereaved  brethren  at  Thessalonica, 
or  to  us  at  present,  to  tell  us  that  God 
would  bring  with  Christ,  at  his  second 
coming,  our  friends  who  sleep  in  Jesus, 
and  that  the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first, 
and  that  afterwards  those  who  shall  yet 
be  alive  shall  be  taken  up  together  with 
them  in  the  clouds,  to  meet  the  Lord  in 
the  air,  and  that  then  we  shall  ever  be 
with  the  Lord — what  comfort,  I  ask,  could 

(30) 


INTRODUCTION 


all  this  be  to  us,  if  departed  friends,  in 
that  reunion,  could  neither  know  nor  com- 
mune with  one  another?  Without  this, 
St.  Paul's  instruction  and  proffered  com- 
fort is  nothing  but  a  vain  hope,  a  solemn 
farce!  No,  no!  such  a  thought  should 
not  for  one  moment  disturb  our  hope! 
God's  people  will  be  reunited — they  will 
recognize  each  other,  and  hold  communion 
together  in  "My  Father's  house  of  many 
mansions." 

CHRIST  SPOKE  OF  IT  AS  AN  ACKNOWLEDGED 
TRUTH. 

My  fourth  and  last  proof  of  this  doctrine 
of  future  recognition  and  communion  is, 
that  Christ  spoke  of  it,  not  as  something 
to  be  devoutly  desired  yet  faintly  hoped 
for,  but  as  an  established  truth  and  un- 
doubted reality,  both  in  the  parable  of 
(31) 


INTRODUCTION 


the  rich  man  and  Lazarus,  and  on  the 
mount  of  transfiguration. 

In  the  parable  of  the  rich  man,  Lazarus 
and  Abraham  are  associated  together, 
and  recognize  and  commune  with  each 
other.  Luke  xvi.  19-31.  And  on  the 
mount,  Moses  and  Elijah  appear  in  com- 
pany, and  they  are  recognized  by  Christ 
and  his  three  apostles;  and  so  endearing 
was  this  communion  that  Peter  said  to 
Jesus:  "Lord,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here: 
if  thou  wilt,  let  us  make  here  three  tab- 
ernacles— one  for  thee,  and  one  for  Moses, 
and  one  for  Elias."  Matt.  xvii.  1-8. 
Mark  ix.   2-10;  Luke  ix.  28-36. 

There  is,  however,  another  proof  for 
this  doctrine  to  be  derived  from  the 
reappearance  of  Moses  and  Elijah  on  the 
mount  of  transfiguration  They  were  utter 
strangers  on  earth,  for  the  former  lived 

(32) 


THE  TRANSFIGURATION. 


INTRODUCTION 


at  least  five  hundred  and  fifty  years  before 
the  latter,*  and  yet  they  had  learned  to 
know  each  other,  and  to  hold  communion 
together.  If  those  who  were  perfect 
strangers  on  earth  can  thus  recognize 
each  other,  and  be  thus  associated  together, 
in  the  spiritual  world,  how  much  more 
those  who  were  so  long  and  so  tenderly 
related  as  parents,  and  children,  and 
friends ! 

Thus,  from  the  days  of  Abraham  down 
through  the  whole  period  of  revelation, 
the  people  of  God  believed  in  a  future 
reunion,  recognition  and  communion  of 
departed  souls;  and  Christ  has  brought 
this  hope,  equal  with  "life  and  immortality,*' 
into  the  full  light  of  absolute  certainty. 


♦Moses  died  145 1  B.  C. 
Elijah  died  896  B.  C. 


(35) 


INTRODUCTION 


We  do  know  that  we  shall  know  each  other 
on  the  other  shore. 

"When  the  holy  angels  meet  us, 

As  we  go  to  join  their  band; 
We  shall  know  the  friends  that  greet  us 

In  the  glorious  spirit  land: 
We  shall  see  the  same  eyes  shining 

On  us,  as  in  days  of  yore; 
We  shall  feel  the  dear  arms  twining 

Fondly  round  us  as  before." 


(36) 


BIBLE  REFERENCES 


Bible  References. 

Gen.  XV.  15  "Thou  shalt  go  to  thy  fa- 
thers in  peace." 

Gen.  XXV.  8,  17  "Gathered  unto  his  peo- 
ple." XXXV.  29.  xlix.  29,  33.  Deut. 
xxxii.  49,  50. 

Gen.  xxxvii.  34,  35  "For  I  will  go  down 
into  the  grave  unto  my  son  mourning.' 

I  Sam.  xxviii.  19  "Tomorrow  shalt  thou 
and  thy  sons  be  with  me." 

II  Sam.  xii.  22,  23  "I  shall  go  to  him, 
but  he  shall  not  return  to  me." 

Matt.  viii.  11  "Many  shall  come  from 
the  east  and  west,  and  shall  sit  down  with 
Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  in  the 
kingdom  of  heaven."    Luke  xiii.  28,  29. 

Matt.  xvii.  3  "And,  behold,  there  ap- 
peared unto  them  Moses  and  Elias  talk- 
(37) 


BIBLE  REFERENCES 


ing  with  him."  Matt.  xvii.  i-8.  Mark 
ix.  2-IO.    Luke  ix.  28-36. 

Luke  vii.  15  "And  he  that  was  dead  sat 
up  and  began  to  speak.  And  he  de- 
Uvered  him  to  his  mother." 

Luke  xvi.  9  "That,  when  ye  fail,  they 
may  receive  you  into  everlasting  habi- 
tations." 

Luke  xvi.  23  "And  in  hell  he  lift  up  his 
eyes,  being  in  torments,  and  seeth 
Abraham  afar  off,  and  Lazarus  in  his 
bosom."  19-31. 

Luke  xxiii.  43     "Today  shalt  thou  be  with 

me  in  Paradise." 
John  xi.  23    "Thy  brother  shall  rise  again." 
John  xiv.  2     'T  go  to  prepare  a  place  for 

you."    xiv.  1-3. 
I  Cor.  xiii.  12     "But  then  shall  I  know 

even  as  also  I  am  known." 

(38) 


BIBLE  REFERENCES 


Col.  i.  28  "That  we  may  present  every 
man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus." 

I  Thess.  ii.  19,  20  "For  what  is  our  hope, 
or  joy,  or  crown  of  rejoicing?  Are  not 
even  ye  in  the  presence  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  at  his  coming?  For  ye  are 
our  glory  and  our  joy." 

I  Thess.  iv.  14  "Even  so  them  also  which 
sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him." 

I  Thess.  iv.  18  "Wherefore  comfort  one 
another  with  these  words."  13-18. 

Rev.  vii.  9  "And,  lo,  a  great  multitude, 
which  no  man  could  number,  of  all 
nations,  and  kindreds,  and  people,  and 
tongues." 

Rev.  vii.  14  "These  are  they  which  came 
out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have 
washed  their  robes,  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb," 


(39) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


riorning-Land. 

"Some  day,"  we  say,  and  turn  our  eyes 

Toward  the  fair  hills  of  Paradise; 

Some  day,  some  time,  a  sweet  new  rest 

Shall  blossom,  fiower-like,  in  each  breast, 

Some  day,  some  time,  our  eyes  shall  see 

The  faces  kept  in  memory; 

Some  day  their  hands  shall  clasp  our  hand. 

Just  over  in  the  Morning-land — 

O  Morning-land.    O  Morning-land. 

— Edward  H.  Phelps. 

"Joy  Cometh  in  the  morning."  Psa.  30:  5. 


(40) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Recognition  of  Our  Friends 
in  Peavei^. 

If  any  of  us  had  decided  to  go  to 
a  distant  country,  and  make  that  our 
home  for  hfe,  we  should  naturally  be 
very  desirous  to  learn  everything  im- 
portant or  interesting  about  that 
country  :  We  should  like  to  know 
how  far  away  it  was,  and  what  was 
the  best  way  to  reach  it  ;  we  should 
also  wish  to  learn  the  nature  of  the 
land,  whether  it  was  hiily  or  level 
whether  it  was  fertile  or  barren  ; 
what  were  its  productions  and 
minerals,  what  kind  of  climate  it  had, 
hot  or  cold,  healthy  or  malarious  ; 
(41) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


what  kind  of  government  it  had,  mon- 
archical or  republican  ;  what  kind 
of  laws  were  in  force,  and  what  were 
the  necessary  qualifications  for  be- 
coming citizens  ;  and  especially  should 
we  like  to  know  the  character  of 
the  inhabitants,  whether  they  were 
civilized  or  savage,  whether  they 
were  heathen,  Mohammedans,  Jews 
or  Christians ;  what  language  they 
spoke,  and  whether  we  should  be  able 
to  have  intercourse  or  conversation 
with  them  ;  and  lastly,  it  would  be  very 
important  for  us  to  learn  whether 
there  were  any  of  our  own  relatives 
or  friends  already  in  that  country, 
and  whether  we  could  meet  them, 
recognize  them,  and  they  recognize 
(42) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


us,  and  whether  we  could  have 
friendly  intercourse  with  one  another. 

This  last  question  particularly 
shall  occupy  our  thoughts  in  these 
pages,  and  in  answering  it  we  shall 
emphasize  the  requisites  for  a  future 
recognition,  or  the  conditions  which 
are  absolutely  necessary  to  our 
knowing  one  another  in  heaven. 


(43) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


CHAPTER  1. 

THE  IMMORTALITY  OF  THE  SOUL. 

If  the  human  soul  is  not  immortal, 
if  death  ends  all,  and  there  is  no  life 
beyond  the  grave,  then,  of  course, 
there  can  be  no  such  thing  as  a  future 
recognition.  Oh,  how  dark,  hopeless 
and  miserable  then  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death !  But  that  there 
is  a  future  state  after  the  death 
of  the  body  is  a  truth  almost  intuitive 
in  the  human  mind.  All  people  from 
the  earliest  times  have  believed  in  a 
future  life  ;  heathens,  Mohammedans, 
Jews,  and  above  all,  Christians  believe 
in  the  immortality  of  the  soul.  No 

(44) 


FRIENDS 


I  N 


HEAVEN 


truth  is  taught  more  emphatically  in 
the  Bible,  in  both  Old  and  New 
Testaments,  than  that  of  an  eternal, 
conscious  existence,of  either  happiness 
or  woe  ;  the  righteous  shall  enter  into 
eternal  happiness,  and  the  wicked 
into  everlasting  punishment.  ''God 
so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his 
only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  in  him  should  not  perish, 
but  have  everlasting  life."  John  iii.  i6. 
Jesus  said  to  his  disciples  on  the 
night  before  his  crucifixion  and  death, 
"In  my  Father's  house  are  many 
mansions:  ...  I  go  to  prepare  a 
place  for  you.  And  ...  I  will  come 
again  and  receive  you  unto  myself ; 
that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be 
(45) 


I 

RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


also."  John  xiv.  2,  3.  Very  many 
texts  like  these  might  be  quoted 
from  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which 
teach  in  the  plainest  and  most  em- 
phatic words  a  future  state  of  exist- 
ence. It  is  hardly  necessary  to  prove 
this,  either  from  reason  or  from 
Scripture ;  we  take  it  for  granted. 


(46) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


CHAPTER  II. 

PREVIOUS  ACQUAINTANCE  ON  EARTH. 

We  shall,  indeed,  meet  with  many 
Christians  whom  we  have  never  met 
or  known  on  earth,  and  with  whom 
we  shall  then  become  acquainted  ; 
but  that  will  not  be  recognition,  for 
recognition  implies  that  we  meet  with 
a  person,  after  a  lapse  of  time,  whom 
we  knew  before,  and  feel  certain  that 
it  is  the  same  person  with  whom  we 
were  previously  acquainted.  Where 
a  previous  acquaintance  has  not 
existed  between  two  or  more  persons, 
there  may  be  new  acquaintances  and 
attachments  formed,  but  that  cannot 
(47) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


be  recognition  in  the  true  sense  of 
the  word.  Hence,  there  must  have 
been  previous  acquaintance  before 
there  can  be  future  recognition. 

Some  one  has  said,  "  Before  we 
think  and  talk  so  much  about  a  recog- 
nition in  heaven,  there  ought  to  be 
more  recognition  among  the  members 
of  the  church  on  earth."  It  is  true, 
there  are  many  members,  often  of 
the  same  congregation,  who  have 
never  become  acquainted  with  each 
other.  This  is  especially  the  case  in 
very  large  congregations  in  the  cities. 
There  is  often  very  little  intercourse 
or  acquaintance  between  the  rich  and 
the  poor,  the  learned  and  the  un- 
learned, those  in  high  stations  and 
(48) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


those  in  the  humbler  walks  of  life  ; 
now,  when  these  different  classes 
meet  in  the  mansions  of  our  Father's 
house,  they  will,  indeed,  not  recog- 
nize each  other,  but  they  will  become 
acquainted  and  form  new  friendships. 

A  quaint  writer  has  said,  When  I 
get  to  heaven  I  think  three  things 
will  particularly  surprise  me.  The 
first  surprise  will  be,  that  I  shall  meet 
some  in  heaven  whom  I  did  not  ex- 
pect to  meet  there.  These  are  some 
who  were  in  the  humble  walks  of  life, 
or  some  of  the  poor  and  obscure 
Christians,  who  never  made  much 
demonstration  of  their  religion  ;  I 
passed  them  on  the  street,  but  never 
had  any  thought  or  made  any  inquiry 

(49) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


about  their  hope  of  heaven;  but  lo! 
when  I  arrive  there  myself  I  recognize 
them,  to  my  great  surprise,  among 
the  white  robed  throng  before  the 
throne. 

The  second  surprise  will  be,  that 
some  whom  I  expected  to  meet  there 
will  not  be  found  in  those  blissful 
abodes.  They  are  members  of  the 
church,  they  went  with  me  to  the 
communion  table  and  made  loud  pro- 
fession of  religion,  and  of  course  I 
expected  to  meet  them  in  heaven. 
And  I  look  for  them  on  the  golden 
streets  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  but  see 
them  not  there  ;  I  search  for  them  on 
the  banks  of  the  river  of  life,  but  find 
them  not  among  the  trees  of  life  ;  I 
(50) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


inquire  among  the  innumerable  com- 
pany that  stand  in  white  before  the 
throne,  but  they  are  not  among  that 
happy  throng.  I  expected  to  meet 
them  in  heaven,  but,  alas,  to  my  great 
surprise,  they  are  not  there.  They 
must  have  been  either  hypocrites  or 
mere  formalists,  who  had,  indeed,  the 
form  of  godliness,  but  lacked  its 
power. 

''The  third  thing,  and  greatest  sur- 
prise of  all,  will  be  that  I  shall  find 
myself  in  heaven.  After  all  my  sins 
and  sorrows,  my  temptations,  toils, 
pains,  disappointments,  sickness  and 
death,  to  find  myself  in  heaven  at 
last !  saved  through  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb  !  " 

(51) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


CRAPTER  III. 

HEAVEN  A  PLACE. 

Dr.  Chalmers  says  in  one  of  his 
pubHshed  sermons,  that  heaven  is 
not  a  place,  but  a  condition,  into 
which  we  shall  enter  after  death. 
Now,  it  is  true,  that  without  a  renewal 
of  heart  and  life,  sanctified  by  the 
Holy  Ghost,  heaven  could  not  be  a 
state  of  happiness  to  any  one,  even 
in  the  most  exalted  position  ;  yet  we 
instinctively  regard  heaven  as  a  local- 
ity, a  place  in  God's  universe,  where 
he  more  particularly  displays  his 
glorious  attributes  to  his  intelligent 
creatures.  And  the  Scriptures  speak 
(52) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


of  heaven  as  a  place  ;  some  of  the 
descriptions  of  heaven  may  be  figura- 
tive or  symboHcal,  yet  the  idea  of 
locahty  is  always  associated  with  the 
very  word,  heaven.  Such  are  the 
descriptions  of  the  New  Jerusalem, 
with  its  foundations  of  precious  stones, 
its  walls  of  jasper,  its  gates  of  pearl, 
and  its  streets  of  shining  gold  ;  also 
its  river  of  life,  flowing  from  the  throne 
of  God,  the  trees  of  life  growing  on  its 
banks,  and  the  redeemed  v/alking  in 
the  street  among  these  trees,  indicate 
the  idea  that  heaven  is  a  locality. 
Paul  speaks  of  his  desire  to  go  away 
and  be  with  Christ ;  now  Christ  is 
indeed  with  his  people  on  earth  in  an 
invisible  manner,  even  to  the  end  of 

(5.S)  4 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


the  world,  but  Paul  wishes  to  be 
with  Christ  where  he  can  see  him 
face  to  face  and  be  Hke  him.  Then, 
also,  the  Savior  himself  expressly 
calls  heaven  a  place  in  the  mansions 
of  his  Father's  house. 

But  where  this  place  is,  in  the  im- 
mensity of  God's  universe,  we  can  only 
conjecture.  For  instance,  the  earth 
revolves  around  its  own  axis,  once  in 
twenty-four  hours,  forming  the  day 
and  the  night  ;  the  moon  revolves 
around  the  earth,  once  in  four  weeks  ; 
the  earth  with  the  moon  revolves 
around  the  sun,  once  a  year,  forming 
the  different  seasons  ;  then  all  the 
planets  in  our  planetary  system  re- 
volve around  our  sun,  as  their  and 
(54) 


FRIEND  vS      IN  HEAVEN 


our  common  centre,  at  various  dis- 
tances and  in  different  periods  of 
time.  We  are  taught  by  the  astron- 
omers, that  the  fixed  stars  are  also 
suns  that  have  planets  with  their 
satellites  revolving  around  them. 
But  they  profess  also  to  have  dis- 
covered that  our  sun  with  its  plane- 
tary system  and  all  the  vast  hosts  of 
suns  with  their  planetary  systems 
revolve  around  one  common  center^ 
which  is  therefore  the  center  of  the 
universe ;  and  we  conclude,  where 
the  center  of  the  universe  is,  there 
is  the  eternal  throne  of  God,  and 
where  God's  throne  is,  there  is  heaven. 
It  is  an  awfully  sublime  and  over- 
whelming thought,  that  God  is  seated 
(55) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


upon  his  immovable  throne  in  the 
center  of  the  universe,  with  all  the 
works  of  his  hands  revolving  around 
him  in  harmonious  and  glorious 
motion,  called  by    the  ancients  the 

music  of  the  spheres. 

Forever  singing  as  they  shine, 
The  hand  that  made  us  is  divine. 
Now,  in  order  that  there  may  be  a 
future   recognition  of  the  saints  in 
heaven,  they  must  not  be  scattered 
at    inconceivable    distances    in  the 
immensity  of  the  universe,  but  must 
be  brought  into  such  close  proximity 
that  they  may  have  easy  intercourse 
with  one  another.     Spirits  may,  in- 
deed, have  better  means  of  intercourse 
than  we   now   have,    while   we  are 
tabernacling  in  the  flesh  ;  but  even 
(56) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


spirits  are  not  omnipresent,  for  omni- 
presence is  an  attribute  of  the  infinite 
God,  which  finite  beings  do  not  possess. 
Therefore,  if  there  be  a  future  recogni- 
tion there  must  be  a  common  center, 
where  we  can  meet  and  commune 
with  each  other.  We  may  not  al- 
ways remain  in  one  place,  but  as 
we  shall  be  like  unto  the  angels, 
God  will  doubtless  employ  us  as  he 
does  the  angels,  who  are  his  minis- 
tering spirits,  and  we  may  be  sent 
by  him,  as  the  angels  are,  to  execute 
his  will  and  purpose  in  various  and 
distant  parts  of  his  universe.  But 
we  cannot  permanently  or  constantly 
be  separated,  if  there  is  to  be  a  rec- 
ognition in  heaven. 

(57) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


The  so-called  Soul-sleepers  tell 
us,  that  man's  spirit  falls  asleep  at 
death,  and  remains  in  an  uncon- 
scious state  till  the  day  of  judgment. 
This  is  a  false  and  unscriptural 
theory.  The  soul  of  the  believer 
enters  immediately  after  death  into  a 
state  of  consciousness  and  ineffable 
joy.  Moses  and  Elijah  appeared  on 
the  Mount  of  Transfiguration  and 
conversed  with  Jesus,  the  one  fifteen 
hundred  and  the  other  nine  hundred 
years  after  death. 

Here  the  question  may  arise.  If 
heaven  is  at  such  an  inconceivable 
distance  from  the  earth,  how  shall 
the  dying  Christian  reach  his  happy 
home?  Shall  he  be  left  alone  to 
(58) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


find  his  way  through  the  dark  valley 
of  the  shadow  of  death?  or  lose  him- 
self in  the  immensity  of  God's  uni- 
verse? Oh  no,  there  will  be  no 
trouble  or  difficulty  diere.  God  will 
send  his  anp-els  to  brino-  his  re- 
deemed  home  to  glory. 

As  it  was  with  Elijah,  with  the 
malefactor  and  with  Lazarus,  so  will 
it  also  be  with  every  child  of  God 
when  the  spirit  is  separated  from 
the  body.  There  is  a  beautiful  alle- 
gory on  the  transit  of  the  departing 
spirit  of  the  Christian  to  the  Paradise 
of  God: 

While  he  is  lying  on  his  death- 
bed, a!id  his  friends  are  in  the  silent 
chamber  waiting  to  minister  to  his 

(6i) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


latest  wants  or  listening  to  the  last 
words  of  affection  from  his  lips,  holy 
angels  are  also  present,  though  un- 
seen by  mortal  eyes,  ready  to  carry 
his  emancipated  spirit  home.  As 
soon  as  the  soul  has  left  the  body 
they  take  it  up  on  their  wings  of 
light  and  glory,  they  fly  swifter  than 
the  lightning,  we  may  suppose,  past 
the  moon,  past  the  planets,  past 
some  of  the  fixed  stars.  Perhaps  on 
their  way  they  are  met  by  the  angel 
Gabriel,  sent  by  God  on  a  message 
to  some  distant  part  of  the  universe. 
They  stop  a  moment;  he  asks  them, 
Whence  come  ye,  whither  go  ye,  and 
whom  bring  ye  here?  And  they  reply. 
We  come  from  the  planet  Earth  and 
(62) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


we  are  bringing  one  of  the  redeemed 
ones  home  to  heaven.  Then  they 
continue  their  flight  on  and  on,  till 
they  come  into  the  effulgence  of  the 
mediatorial  throne  of  Christ,  and  he 
also  asks  them,  Whence  come  ye, 
and  whom  bring  ye  here?  And  they 
reply,  We  come  from  the  planet 
Earth,  and  we  have  brought  one  of 
the  redeemed  ones  home.  He  comes 
up  out  of  much  tribulation ;  he  has 
washed  his  robes  and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and 
now  we  have  brought  him  up  to  re- 
ceive his  crown  from  thy  hand.  And 
Jesus  stretches  out  his  hands  toward 
him  and  says.  Come,  thou  blessed 
one,  enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy 
Lord. 

(63) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


CHAPTER  IV. 

MEMORY    TO     BE     PRESERVED  AND 
STRENGTHENED. 

If,  when  we  enter  into  the  spirit 
world,  all  that  we  once  knew  of 
events  and  persons  in  this  world 
should  be  blotted  out  from  our  mem- 
ory, then  we  could  not  know  our 
friends  when  we  meet  them  in 
heaven ;  we  might  become  acquainted 
with  them  again,  but  that  would  be 
no  recognition,  it  would  be  merely 
forming  new  friendships ;  if  we  had 
no  recollection  of  each  other,  we 
could  meet  only  as  strangers,  ready 
to  form  new  acquaintances  with  kin- 
dred spirits  in  heaven. 

(64) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


But  in  order  that  there  may  be  a 
recognition  of  our  friends  in  lieaven, 
we  must  retain  the  powers  of  our 
memories  unimpaired;  we  must  be 
able  conhdently  to  say,  This  is  my 
father,  this  is  my  mother,  this  is  my 
brother,  this  is  my  sister,  this  is  my 
child,  this  man  was  my  pastor,  this 
was  my  teacher  in  the  Sunday-school, 
this  one  was  my  neighbor,  and  this 
was  my  class-mate  in  school,  or  col- 
lege, or  seminary.  Unless  we  can  thus 
remember  and  designate  each  other, 
there  can  be  no  real  recognition  in 
heaven.  But  that  our  memories  shall 
be  thus  preserved  and  even  strength- 
ened after  death  is  evident  from 
many  passages  of  Scripture.  Said 
(65) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Abraham  to  the  rich  man  in  hell, 
*'Son,  remember  that  thou  in  thy 
lifetime  receivedst  thy  good  things, 
and  likewise  Lazarus  evil  things." 

Indeed,  there  is  reason  to  believe 
that  the  memory  will  be  strengthened 
in  an  extraordinary  degree  after  the 
spirit  is  separated  from  the  body. 
Instances  are  related  of  persons  who 
believed  themselves  in  imminent 
danger  of  death,  and  had  the  history 
of  their  whole  lives  instantly  brought 
to  their  minds,  even  to  the  minut- 
est particulars.  Persons  who  believed 
themselves  in  the  act  of  drowning, 
and  were  rescued  just  as  they  had 
given  up  all  hope  of  life,  and  were 
sinking  for  the  last  time  under  the 
(66) 


H.  HOFMANN. 

THE  RICH  MAN  AND  LAZARUS. 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


water,  had  the  history  of  their  Hves 
minutely  brought  to  their  minds. 

I  read  of  an  instance,  where  a  lion 
that  had  escaped  from  his  cage  in  a 
menagerie  suddenly  crouched  before 
a  man  standing  in  front  of  his  house, 
ready  to  spring  upon  him;  the  man 
stood  paralyzed,  not  daring  to  move 
hand  or  foot,  expecting  every  mo- 
ment the  lion  would  spring  upon  him 
and  tear  him  to  pieces.  In  that 
moment  his  whole  life  stood  as  in  a 
picture  before  him.  Fortunately,  a 
large  dog  sprang  out  at  that  moment 
and  bit  the  lion,  but  was  instantly 
killed  by  him,  and  thus  the  man's  life 
was  saved. 

A  very  singular  case  is  recorded 
(69) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


in  a  book  on  mental  science.  A 
woman  who  was  taken  sick  and  was 
lying  in  a  state  of  delirium  began  to 
repeat  long  passages  in  a  strange 
language.  The  people  around  her 
did  not  understand  a  word  she  said. 
At  last  a  minister  of  the  gospel  was 
called  in,  and  he  declared  she  was 
repeating  Hebrew  out  of  the  Old 
Testament  Scriptures.  A  Hebrew 
Bible  was  consulted,  and  it  was  found 
that  she  repeated  extracts  from 
the  Old  Testament  in  the  Hebrew 
language.  She  had  never  learned 
Hebrew  and  in  her  normal  state  of 
mind  she  did  not  understand  a  word, 
nor  could  she  tell  the  name  of  a  single 
letter  in  the  Hebrew  language.  But 
(70) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


it  was  learned  that  she  had  once 
Hved  with  a  minister  who  was  a 
distinguished  Hebrew  scholar,  and  he 
was  in  the  habit  of  reading  aloud  in 
his  study  passages  out  of  the  Hebrew 
Bible.  She  heard  the  words  and 
years  after  in  her  delirium  she  re- 
peated them  as  she  had  heard  them 
from  the  lips  of  the  old  minister. 

The  following  is  related  by  Mr. 
Beecher  :  "I  know  a  man  who  said, 
that  in  falling  twenty  feet,  when  he 
expected  to  die,  the  thoughts  of  a 
Hfetime  seemed  to  pass  through  his 
mind.  He  thought  of  his  business, 
of  his  wife,  of  his  children  and  of  the 
eternity  to  which  he  was  going.  A 
life  seemed  to  pass  through  his  mind, 
(71) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


and  nothing  was  lost.  So  it  will  be 
when  memory  summons  the  acts  of 
a  life  at  the  last  tribunal.  Nothing 
is  lost.  Thoughts  once  impressed, 
but  apparently  lost,  will  come  up 
again.  A  life  is  written  on  our 
memory  as  with  invisible  ink.  It  is 
apparently  lost  to  our  frail  sight  while 
here ;  but  in  the  judgment-light,  it 
will  be  seen  enveloped  around  us  and 
will  be  unrolled  till  every  line  and 
letter  is  made  visible. 

'T  knew  a  sailor,  who  said  that 
when  once  in  a  storm  on  the  giddy 
mast,  while  trying  to  furl  a  sail,  and 
he  could  not,  he  cursed  God.  It 
passed  out  of  his  mind  for  twenty 
years  ;but  then,  in  a  season  of  excite- 
(72) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


ment,  he  said,  '  Now  I  remember  it ; 
I  am  lost.'  " 

Such  a  strengthening  of  the  memory 
is  thought  to  be  necessary,  in  order 
to  vindicate  the  justice  of  God  in  the 
condemnation  and  punishment  of  the 
wicked,  when  the  books  shall  be 
opened  and  every  man  shall  be  judged 
according  to  the  deeds  done  in  the 
body.  For,  if  the  sinner  could  not 
be  mindful  of  the  sins  which  he  had 
committed,  he  would  think  his  punish- 
ment was  greater  than  he  deserved, 
and  that  God  was  unjust.  But  when 
he  sees  his  sins  in  all  their  countless 
number  and  all  their  black  and 
horrible  enormity,  unrepented  of, 
unatoned  for  and  unforgiven,  he  must 
admit  that  his  punishment  is  deserved 
and  that  God  is  just. 

5  (73) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


CHAPTER  V. 

REUNION  ETERNAL. 

The  union  with  our  friends  in  glory 
will  be  eternal.  Separations  on  earth 
are  often  painful.  When  families  are 
temporarily  separated ;  when  a  son 
goes  into  business  for  himself,  or  a 
daughter  gets  married  and  moves  to 
a  distant  place,  the  separation  often 
causes  sorrow ;  but  we  are  consoled 
by  the  hope  that  we  may  meet  sooner 
or  later  again  ;  occasionally  they  will 
revisit  the  parental  home;  some- 
times there  is  a  family  reunion.  So 
also  when  a  member  of  the  family  is 
taken  away  by  death  the  survivors  go 
(74) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


forth  and  weep  together,  but  they 
are  consoled  by  the  hope  that  the 
loved  ones  are  not  lost,  but  only  gone 
before.  The  idea  that  the  separation 
must  be  eternal  would  be  overwhelm- 
ingly dreadful.  Temporary  separa- 
tions there  may  be,  even  in  heaven, 
when  God  shall  commission  us  or  any 
of  our  sainted  friends  to  go  on  some 
errand  in  a  distant  part  of  the  uni- 
verse, like  the  angels  who  are  his 
ministering  spirits.  But  the  separa- 
tion will  be  only  temporary,  and  the 
reunion  after  a  temporary  separation 
will  cause  rather  an  increase  of 
our  joy. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  thoughts 
and  blessed  hopes  is  that  of  the  re- 

(75) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


union  of  the  Christian  family  in 
heaven ;  there  should  not  and  there 
need  not  be  a  separation  of  a  Chris- 
tian family  in  the  world  to  come. 
Here  on  earth  they  lived  together 
in  peace  and  love  and  hope ;  they 
shared  one  another's  joys  and  sorrows; 
they  ate  at  the  same  table ;  they 
slept  under  the  same  roof;  they  were 
buried  side  by  side  in  the  grave-yard, 
on  a  lot  not  as  large  as  the  house  in 
which  they  dwelt ;  on  the  morning  of 
the  resurrection  they  rise  up  together 
to  meet  their  Savior  coming  in  the 
clouds  of  heaven ;  before  the  judg- 
ment throne  they  all  stand  on  the 
right  hand,  not  one  lost  or  missing, 
nor  father,  nor  mother,  nor  brother, 
(76) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


nor  sister ;  but  all  hear  that  joyful 
welcome,  Come,  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared 
for  you  from  the  foundation  of  the 
world.  Methinks  I  see  the  children 
rising  up  to  bless  their  parents  as 
instruments  in  leading  them  to  Christ 
and  salvation.  Methinks  I  hear  them 
say,  We  remember  our  home  in 
yonder  world,  consecrated  by  your 
piety  and  your  prayers,  as  the  house 
of  God  and  the  gate  of  heaven. 
There  we  knelt  with  you  at  the  family 
altar  in  prayer,  we  walked  with  you 
to  the  house  of  God  and  heard  the 
gospel  preached,  and  went  with  you 
to  the  communion  table  of  our  Lord. 
Your  Christian  example,  your  fervent 
(77) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


prayers,  your  faithful  instruction, 
your  parental  admonitions,  brought 
down  upon  us  the  blessing  of  our 
God,  and  now  we  stand  in  these 
white  robes  of  Christ's  righteousness 
on  these  heights  of  Zion  to  bless  you, 
our  father,  you,  our  mother,  as  the 
instruments  in  the  hand  of  God  of 
our  salvation.  No  pen  can  describe, 
no  tongue  can  tell,  no  heart  can 
conceive  the  happiness  of  such  a 
family.  Dear  reader,  would  you 
make  this  blessedness  your  own  ? 
Then  begin,  if  you  have  not  already 
begun,  the  use  of  every  means  of 
grace  and  the  performance  of  every 
duty  that  by  the  grace  of  God  may 
bring  about  the  union  of  your  whole 
family  in  heaven. 

(78) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  LANGUAGE  OF  HEAVEN. 

Much  of  our  enjoyment  in  this 
world  is  found  in  the  company  of  our 
friends,  and  in  the  interchange  of 
communications  with  each  other.  If 
we  could  not  converse  and  communi- 
cate our  thoughts,  views  and  feelings 
with  each  other,  heaven  would  be  a 
very  dull  place. 

From  numerous  passages  of  Scrip- 
ture we  learn  that  saints  and  angels 
have  the  power  of  speech.  The  angel 
Gabriel  announced  to  the  Virgin 
Mary  that  she  would  become  the 
mother  of  Jesus.  The  angel  said 
(79) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


to  the  shepherds  on  Bethlehem's 
plains,  "Behold,  I  bring  you  good 
tidings  of  great  joy:  for  unto  you  is 
born  this  day  in  the  city  of  David  a 
Savior,  which  is  Christ  the  Lord.'' 
The  angel  said  to  the  women  who 
came  early  to  the  sepulchre,  ''Ye 
seek  Jesus, — he  is  not  here — he  is 
risen  from  the  dead — go  tell  his  dis- 
ciples," etc.  So  also  Moses  and 
Elijah  came  down  from  heaven  and 
talked  with  Jesus  on  the  Mount  of 
Transfiguration,  and  Peter  and  the 
other  apostles  heard  and  understood 
what  they  said. 

The  question  may  be  raised,  Shall 
there   be  a  universal   language  in 
heaven,  which  we  shall  learn  when 
(80) 


ALEX.  ENDER 

DECLARING  THE  RESURRECTION. 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


we  get  there?  or  shall  we  each  speak 
the  particular  language  which  was 
our  mother  tongue  on  earth?  or  shall 
we  be  able  to  communicate  our 
thoughts  and  feelings  reciprocally  to 
each  other  without  articulate  sounds 
and  words?  We  do  not  know  just 
now  how  we  shall  converse  with  each 
other  in  heaven,  but  we  shall  know 
when  we  get  there.  Our  words  now 
are  uttered  by  our  bodily  organs  of 
speech,  but  by  what  means  disem- 
bodied spirits  converse  is  one  of  those 
things  which  we  do  not  yet  under- 
stand, or  need  to  understand. 

When  God   made   man    He  en- 
dowed him  with  the  power  of  speech. 
What   language    our   first  parents 
(83) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


spoke  in  Eden  has  not  been  definitely 
revealed.  Perhaps  it  was  the  He- 
brew, in  which  the  Old  Testament 
Scriptures  were  written.  Whatever 
that  language  may  have  been,  cer- 
tainly it  was  the  only  one  spoken  by 
the  human  race  for  about  two  thou- 
sand years  after  the  creation  of  man ; 
that  is,  from  Adam  to  the  building 
of  the  tower  of  Babel.  Thus  we 
read  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  the 
book  of  Genesis :  ''And  the  whole 
earth  was  of  one  language  and  of  one 
speech.  And  as  they  journeyed  from 
the  east,  they  found  a  plain  in  the 
land  of  Shinar  and  dwelt  there.  And 
they  said.  Let  us  build  us  a  city  and 
a  tower  whose  top  may  reach  unto 
(84) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


heaven,  and  let  us  make  us  a  name, 
lest  we  be  scattered  abroad  upon  the 
face  of  the  whole  earth."  The  com- 
mon notion  is,  that  they  wished  to 
build  a  tower  so  high  that  in  case 
of  another  flood  they  could  be  safe 
on  the  top  of  it.  But  it  would  have 
been  impossible  to  build  a  tower  so 
high  that  its  top  could  not  be  sub- 
merged by  a  flood  like  that  in  the 
time  of  Noah,  which  overflowed  the 
highest  mountains ;  nor  could  many 
of  them  have  assembled  or  subsisted 
there  for  any  length  of  time  without 
a  supply  of  provisions.  Their  evident 
design  was  to  build  a  large  city,  and 
make  it  the  center  of  the  world's 
population ;  they  did  not  wish  to  be 
(85) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


scattered  over  the  whole  surface  of 
the  earth.  But  this  was  contrary  to 
God's  design.  He  said,  "Increase 
and  multiply  and  fill  the  earth."  He 
therefore  thwarted  their  intention  by 
confounding  their  tongues,  and  mak- 
them  unintelligible  to  one  another, 
so  that  when  one  called  for  stone 
another  brought  up  wood,  when  one 
called  for  timber  another  brought  up 
iron,  etc.,  etc.  Hence  they  disagreed, 
the  work  could  not  go  on,  they  sepa- 
rated and  settled  in  different  parts 
of  the  world.  From  that  time  on 
people  have  spoken  different  lan- 
guages in  various  parts  of  the  earth, 
and  the  inhabitants  of  one  country 
cannot  understand  the  language  of 
(86) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


the  people  in  another  country.  It  is 
said  that  there  are  now  over  three  hun- 
dred languages  and  dialects  among 
the  inhabitants  of  this  babbling  earth. 
There  are,  however,  still  a  few 
words  which  are  common  to  all  lan- 
guages. 

An  instance  is  related  of  two  con- 
verts to  Christianity  from  heathen 
lands,  who  met  on  a  ship.  Neither 
could  speak  the  language  of  the 
other,  but  each  had  an  idea  that  the 
other  was  a  Christian.  At  last  one 
of  them  called  out:  "Hallelujah!" 
and  the  other  responded,  "Amen!" 
These  words  were  intelligible  to 
both,  and  they  recognized  each  other 
as  brethren  in  Christ. 

(87) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


It  is  related  of  a  pious  old  German 
woman,  that  she  feared  she  would  be 
very  lonesome  in  heaven,  because  all 
the  people  about  her  were  speaking 
English,  and  would  also  speak 
English  in  heaven,  and  she  would 
not  be  able  to  understand  what  they 
said  or  sang. 

It  is  possible  that  in  heaven  we 
shall  have  the  gift  of  tongues,  by 
which  we  can  speak  and  understand 
all  languages.  This  gift  was  be- 
stowed on  the  disciples  by  the  out- 
pouring of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  the  day 
of  Pentecost : 

And  they  were  all  amazed  and 
marvelled,  saying    one    to  another, 
Behold,  are  not  all  these  which  speak 
(88) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Galileans  ?  And  how  hear  we  every 
man  in  our  own  tongue,  wherein  we 
were  born  ?  Parthians,  and  Medes, 
and  Elamites,  and  the  dwellers  in 
Mesopotamia,  and  in  Judea,  and 
Cappadocia,  in  Pontus,  and  Asia, 
Phrygia,  and  Pamphylia,  in  Egypt, 
and  in  the  parts  of  Libya  about 
Cyrene,  and  strangers  of  Rome,  Jews 
and  proselytes,  Cretes  and  Arabians, 
we  do  hear  them  speak  in  our  tongues 
the  wonderful  works  of  God."  Acts 

2.  7-II. 


(89) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


CHAPTER  VII. 

NEW  ACQUAINTANCES  IN  HEAVEN. 

Besides  the  recognition  of  friends 
whom  we  knew  and  loved  on  earth, 
we  shall  also  form  new  acquaintances 
in  heaven.  Heaven  is  inhabited  by 
the  holy  angels — an  innumerable  host, 
who  were  created  before  the  world 
was  made,  and  who  lost  not  their 
estate,  like  the  fallen  angels.  They 
are  blessed,  happy  and  immortal 
beings,  whom  God  employs  as  his 
ministering  spirits.  Some  of  them 
are  named  in  the  Bible.  The  arch- 
angel Michael  is  one  of  them,  who 
cast  Satan  into  the  bottomless  pit  and 
(90) 


THE  ANNUNCIATION. 


HOFMANN. 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


bound  him  in  adamantine  chains  ; 
and  the  archangel  Gabriel,  who 
announced  to  the  Virgin  Mary  that 
she  should  become  the  mother  of 
the  promised  Messiah.  The  angels 
are  distinguished  into  principalities 
and  powers,  into  Cherubim  and  Sera- 
phim. We  shall  become  personally 
acquainted  with  them  and  converse 
with  them.  They  can  relate  to  us 
the  story  of  the  creation  of  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  when  the 
morning  stars  sang  together  and  all 
the  sons  of  God  shouted  for  joy." 

And  there  we  shall  also  meet  the 
patriarchs,  prophets,  apostles,  martyrs 
and  reformers.  There  I  expect  to 
meet  Adam  and  Eve,  and  they  can 

6  (93) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


give  us  a  description  of  Paradise,  be- 
fore it  was  entered  and  cursed  by  sin; 
there  I  expect  to  meet  Noah  and 
converse  with  him ;  the  surging  of 
the  flood  is  still  fresh  in  his  memory  ; 
there  I  expect  to  meet  Abraham,  that 
man  of  mighty  faith  ;  and  Joseph  and 
Moses  and  Joshua  and  Samuel  and 
David,  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  Daniel  ;  and 
then  I  shall  meet  the  worthies  of  the 
New  Testament,  Peter  and  James 
and  John  and  Matthew  and  Andrew 
and  Stephen,  the  first  martyr,  Paul 
and  Barnabas  and  Timothy  and  the 
martyrs  and  reformers.  Time  would 
fail  me  to  mention  by  name  a 
thousandth  part  of  them.  These  are 
the  nobles  of  whom  the  world  was 
(94) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


not  worthy.  What  will  be  our 
wonder,  surprise  and  joy  when  we 
shall  meet  those  whose  names  we 
have  often  read  in  the  Bible,  and 
whose  character  and  noble  deeds  we 
have  so  often  admired  !  But  there 
will  also  be  a  countless  host  of  the 
redeemed  whose  names  we  never 
heard  on  earth,  the  humble  poor, 
whose  deeds  have  never  been  written 
on  the  scroll  of  human  fame,  but  who 
had  a  record  in  heaven,  and  were 
enrolled  in  the  book  of  life.  We 
shall  meet  them  and  converse  with 
them  also,  and  hear  the  story  of  their 
conversion  and  salvation  through 
the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  Yes,  we  shall 
there  be  permitted  to  associate  with 
(95) 


r 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


that  great  multitude,  which  no  man 
can  number,  of  all  nations  and  kin- 
dreds and  peoples  and  tongues,  who 
stand  before  the  throne  and  before 
the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes, 
who  "came  out  of  great  tribula- 
tion, and  have  washed  their  robes 
and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  ot 
the  Lamb."  "And  God  shall  wipe 
away  all  tears  from  their  eyes." 

But  there  is  One  above  all  others, 
whom  w^e  shall  meet  in  heaven  with 
exceeding  great  joy  ;  namely,  our 
blessed  Lord  and  Savior  Jesus 
Christ.  It  would  be  no  heaven  with- 
out Christ.  But  there  we  shall  see 
Jesus  face  to  face  and  be  like  him. 
No  pen  can  describe,  no  tongue  can 
(96) 

^  


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


tell,  no  heart  can  conceive  the  joy  of 
the  saved  soul,  at  the  first  sight  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  in  his  glory. 

Oh,  that   will   be   joyful!  joyful!  joyful! 

When  we  shall  meet,  at  Jesus'  feet; 
Shall  meet  to  part  no  more! 

Somebody  was  asked  how  he  ex- 
pected to  be  occupied  during  the 
eternal  ages  in  heaven.  He  replied, 
I  hope  to  spend  the  first  ten  thousand 
years  in  beholding  the  face  of  Jesus, 
my  Savior  ;  after  that  I  expect  to 
have  time  enough  to  explore  the 
universe  and  become  acquainted  with 
saints  and  angels. 


(97) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OCCUPATION  IN  HEAA^EN. 

How  shall  we  spend  eternity? 
What  will  be  our  occupation  in 
heaven?  'And  I  heard  a  voice  from 
heaven  saying  unto  me,  Write, 
Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the 
Lord  from  henceforth  :  Yea,  saith  the 
Spirit,  that  they  may  rest  from  their 
labors ;  and  their  works  do  follow 
them."    Rev.  14.  13. 

When  a  good  man  dies,  we  say. 
He  has  gone  to  rest."  Yes,  he  is 
at  rest  in  that  he  shall  not  be  weary 
any  more,  he  shall  not  hunger  or 
thirst  any  more,  neither  shall  he  be 
(98) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


sick  or  suffer  any  more  pain,  and  he 
shall  never  die  again.  Yes,  he  shall 
rest  from  his  labors  on  earth.  But 
his  rest  does  not  consist  in  idleness 
or  inactivity.  We  must  not  think 
that  he  shall  do  nothing  in  heaven 
but  sing  psalms ;  yes,  he  shall  join 
in  singing  the  new  song  of  Moses 
and  the  Lamb,  but  his  most  delightful 
work  has  only  now  really  begun. 
The  Savior  says,  In  heaven  the  saints 
shall  be  Hke  unto  the  angels,  and 
the  angels  are  declared  to  be  min- 
istering spirits  sent  to  them  that  are 
heirs  of  salvation  ;  and  as  they  shall 
be  like  unto  the  angels,  they  shall 
also  be  employed  like  the  angels. 
God  governs  the  material  universe 

(iot) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


by  fixed  laws  of  nature,  but  the  spirit- 
ual world  he  governs  by  the  instru- 
mentality of  intelligent  agents ; 
namely,  men  and  angels.  No,  we 
shall  not  spend  eternity  in  indolence 
Has  David  hung  up  his  harp,  now 
unstrung  and  broken,  like  the  dusty 
armor  in  Westminster  Abbey  ?  Has 
Paul  ceased  to  itinerate  the  universe 
after  carrying  the  gospel  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth  ?  Have  Luther  and 
Calvin  and  Knox  and  W esley  ceased 
studying  the  infinite  attributes  of 
God,  and  trying  to  understand  the 
wonderful  plan  of  salvation,  which 
the  angels  desired  to  look  into  ? 
Here  we  see  through  a  glass  darkly, 
but  there  we  shall  see  face  to  face. 
(102) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Our  departed  brother  will  enter  the 
joy  of  his  Lord,  and  be  employed  as 
one  of  God's  ministering  spirits  to 
some  child  on  earth  ;  he  will  see 
God  in  his  glory  ;  he  will  admire 
the  wonders  of  his  works  ;  he  will 
study  his  infinite  perfections  ;  he  will 
try  to  scale  the  height,  fathom  the 
depth,  and  measure  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  love  of  God  in  Christ. 
And  he  will  have  plenty  of  time  ;  he 
will  have  all  eternity  to  devote  to 
this  blessed  employment. 

When  we've  been  there  ten  thousand  years, 

Bright  shining  as  the  sun, 
We've  no  less  days  to  sing  God's  praise, 

Than  when  we  first  begun. 

(103) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


CHAPTER  IX. 

HEAVEN  NOT  YET  OPEN  TO  VIEW. 

The  Savior  once  said  in  regard  to 
little  children,  ''Their  angels  do  always 
behold  the  face  of  my  Father  which  is 
in  heaven."  From  this  the  beauti" 
ful  idea  of  guardian  angels  is  taken. 
And  some  bereaved  Christians  have 
cherished  the  belief  that  their  own 
loved  ones  may  have  been  appointed 
guardian  angels  over  themselves. 
However  that  may  be,  the  Scripture 
says,  "  He  shall  give  his  angels  charge 
over  thee,  to  keep  thee  in  all  thy 
ways.  They  shall  bear  thee  up  in 
their  hands,  lest  thou  dash  thy  foot 
against  a  stone."  Ps.  xci.  ii,  12. 
(104) 


GUARDIAN  ANGEL. 


B.  PLOCKHORST. 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


It  is  certain  that  the  angels  are 
round  about  us,  and  if  we  had  the 
faculty  to  discern  spirits  we  might 
even  see  them  ;  and  as  the  redeemed 
in  heaven  are  like  unto  the  angels, 
it  is  not  impossible  for  them  to  be 
near  us,  whenever  they  choose  so  to 
be.  Some  one  migrht  therefore  ask, 
Would  it  not  be  pleasant  and  de- 
sirable, that  we  should  have  at  least 
occasional  intercourse  with  our  de- 
parted friends,  who  might  come  to 
us  from  their  glorious  habitations, 
and  revisit  us  on  earth?  And  would 
it  not  be  a  blessed  and  happy 
privilege,  if  once  in  a  while  a  window 
in  heaven  were  opened  to  us,  and  we 
could  see  our  friends  there  in  glory  ? 
(107) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Yes,  that  might  afford  us  a  temporary 
happiness,  but  it  would  soon  be 
followed  by  discontent  with  our  lot  on 
earth,  and  unfit  us  for  the  duties 
of  this  life.  St.  Paul  says  he  was 
once  translated  to  the  third  heaven 
and  saw  things  there,  and  heard 
things  there,  which  it  is  unlawful,  or 
rather  impossible  in  our  language,  to 
describe.  He  does  labor  to  find 
words  to  describe  the  happiness  of 
heaven,  when  he  says,  ''Eye  hath 
not  seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither 
have  entered  into  the  heart  of  man, 
the  things  which  God  hath  prepared 
for  them  that  love  him."  i  Cor.  ii. 
9.  After  that  his  ardent  longing  was 
to  go  away  and  be  with  Christ,  and 
(108) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


receive  from  his  hand  the  crown  of 
glory  laid  up  for  him.  The  only  rea- 
son why  he  was  willing  any  longer 
to  stay  on  earth  was  that  he  might 
be  instrumental  in  bringing  yet  many 
others  to  the  faith  of  Christ  and  the 
salvation  of  heaven.  Therefore,  a 
sight  of  heaven  and  our  friends  there 
in  glory  would  most  Hkely  unfit  us 
for  the  duties  of  life  and  absorb  all 
our  thoughts  and  desires  to  go  away 
and  join  our  loved  ones  in  the 
mansions  of  our  Father's  house. 

Years  ago  I  read  an  incident 
illustrative  of  this  subject,  which  I 
will  relate  as  nearly  as  I  can  from 
memory :  A  ship  was  sent  off  from  a 
certain  port  to  sail  around  the  world. 
(109) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


The  voyage  lasted  three  years 
When  the  ship  returned,  and  the  land 
of  their  nativity  became  visible,  the 
sailors  became  very  much  excited. 
Some  of  them  climbed  up  the  masts 
to  have  a  better  view  of  the  land ;  as 
they  drew  nearer  and  could  dis- 
tinguish objects,  some  pointed  to  the 
church  steeples  where  they  had  wor- 
shiped in  their  childhood ;  some 
could  point  out  the  houses  where 
their  parents  and  brothers  and  sisters 
lived  ;  as  they  drew  nearer  to  port 
the  excitement  increased ;  some  of 
the  sailors  went  to  their  chests,  got 
their  best  clothes  and  put  them  on; 
some  laughed  and  some  wept  for  joy. 
But  at  last,  when  the  ship  came  into 
(no) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


port,  and  they  saw  and  recognized 
their  friends  standing-  on  the  wharf, 
waving  welcome  to  them  and  caUing 
them  by  name,  the  crew  could  no 
longer  be  restrained  or  controlled. 
They  hastened  to  the  shore  by  every 
possible  means,  to  embrace  their 
fathers,  mothers,  wives,  brothers  and 
sisters,  and  another  set  of  men  had 
to  be  secured  to  bring  the  vessel  to 
her  mooring. 

Now,  what  would  be  the  effect 
upon  us,  if  heaven  were  opened  to 
our  view,  and  we  could  see  the  New 
Jerusalem  with  its  gates  of  pearl  and 
golden  streets  ;  behold  the  saints 
standing  in  white  before  the  throne, 
and  hear  them  sing  the  new  song  of 
(ill) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Moses  and  the  Lamb ;  yea,  if  we 
could  see  and  recognize  our  loved 
ones  in  the  glory  land,  and  behold  them 
beckoning  to  us,  and  calling  us  by 
name  ?  Oh,  the  scene  would  be  so 
overwhelming,  that  we  should  lose  all 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  this  world. 
Who  would  want  to  work  in  our 
shops  or  fields  ?  Who  would  want 
to  stand  in  stores  and  sell  dry  goods 
and  groceries  ?  Who  would  want  to 
stand  in  banks  and  spend  their  lives 
in  counting  money  ?  Who  would 
want  to  build  houses  here,  or  keep 
them  in  order,  when  in  view  of  our 
glorious  home  in  the  mansions  of  our 
Father's  house  ?  Our  one  and  all- 
absorbing  wish  and  aspiration  would 

(tT2) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


be  to  go  away  and  be  with  Christ, 
to  the  disregard  and  neglect  of  every 
earthly  duty.  No,  it  would  not  be 
well  to  have  heaven  with  all  its 
glories  and  happiness  opened  to  our 
view  now.  It  would  be  too  soon. 
Let  us  abide  our  time  and  serve  the 
Lord  a  Httle  longer,  until  Christ 
shall  say  to  us,  "  Come,  ye  blessed 
of  my  Father,  inherit  the  kingdom 
prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation 
of  the  world." 

Yet  the  Lord  does  sometimes 
grant  his  saints  a  view  of  heaven 
and  its  glories  in  the  moment  just 
before  the  spirit  leaves  the  body. 
Thus,  when  the  proto-martyr,  Ste- 
phen, was   stoned   to   death,  it  is 

7  (113) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


written  of  him  :  "  But  he,  being  full 
of  the  Holy  Ghost,  looked  up  stead- 
fastly into  heaven,  and  saw  the  glory 
of  God,  and  Jesus  standing  on  the 
right  hand  of  God,  and  said,  Behold, 
I  see  the  heavens  opened,  and  the 
Son  of  man  standing  on  the  right 
hand  of  God."    Acts  vii.  55,56. 

The  following  was  related  in  a 
sermon,  by  Rev.  S.  Domer,  D.  D., 
while  pastor  of  the  English  Lutheran 
Church  in  Selinsgrove,  Pa.  I  repeat 
it  from  memory,  as  I  then  heard  it : 

A  young  Christian  was  lying  on 
his  death-bed,  while  his  mother  was 
watching  by  his  side.  He  said  to 
her,  ''Mother,  my  hands  and  feet  are 
getting  cold."    After  a  while  he  said, 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


''Mother,  I  feel  the  cold  coming  up 
to  my  heart."  Soon  after  he  said, 
''Mother,  it  is  getting  dark,  I  cannot 
see  you  any  more."  But  after  a 
while  he  said  again,  "Mother,  it  is 
getting  light  again  ;  I  see  the  angels 
and  hear  them  sing."  And  then  the 
angels  carried  his  ransomed  soul 
home  to  glory. 

When  John  Arndt,  the  author  of 
Wahres  Christe7tthum,  (The  True 
Christianity)  lay  on  his  death-bed  he 
suddenly  exclaimed,  "  We  beheld  his 
glory,  the  glory  as  ot  the  only  be- 
gotten of  the  Father,  full  of  grace 
and  truth."  His  wife  asked  him 
when  he  had  seen  this  glory.  He 
replied,  "Just  now,  I  have  seen  it. 
(115) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


O,  what  a  glory  is  this!  It  is  the 
glory  which  no  eye  hath  seen,  no  ear 
hath  heard  and  hath  not  entered  into 
the  heart  of  man  to  conceive.  This 
glory  I  have  just  now  seen."  Let 
me  die  the  death  of  the  righteous  and 
let  my  last  end  be  like  his. 

Dr.  S.  S.  Schmucker  relates  the 
following  of  his  father,  Dr.  J.  G. 
Schmucker  : 

For  several  months  before  his 
death  he  was  much  abstracted  from 
the  world,  and  engaged  in  almost 
constant  communion  with  God. 
During  this  time  he  on  one  occasion 
was  lying  on  his  bed  in  the  night 
watches,  and  called  to  my  mother, 
who  was  at  his  side,  '  Oh,  if  you  could 
(ii6) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


see  what  I  have  seen  beyond  the 
Jordan  of  death,  how  happy  you 
would  be.' 

Heaven  is  not  yet  open  to  our 
view,  and  it  is  better  thus.  But  a 
spiritual  vision  is  vouchsafed  to  the 
eye  of  faith  which,  while  not  in  con- 
flict with  earth  and  its  duties,  sanctifies 
the  life,  makes  heaven  more  real,  and 
helps  us  to  heed  the  Scriptural  admo- 
nition, '*Set  your  affection  on  things 
above."  How  true  to  the  experience 
of  many  are  these  words  of  another  : 
Our  views  of  heaven  change  as  our 
years  increase.  I  can  remember 
when  my  conception  of  heaven  was 
chiefly  associated  with  the  glowing 
descriptions  of  the  apocalypse.  It 
(117) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


meant  gates  of  pearl  and  golden 
streets,  and  multitudes  of  white-robed 
angels  hymning  a  perpetual  song, 
''Holy,  holy,  holy.  Lord  God  Al- 
mighty." But  there  came  a  time 
when  a  beloved  sister  fell  asleep,  and 
thereafter  her  face  was  always  asso- 
ciated with  every  thought  of  that 
celestial  city.  Then  the  dear  father 
went,  and  then  the  first-born  of  the 
household,  and  then  another,  ''with 
folded  hands  and  dreamy  eyes  went 
through  the  gates  of  Paradise."  And 
now  all  heaven  is  full .  of  faces,  and 
there  are  hands  beckoning  and  voices 
calling.  So  more  and  more  as  the 
years  pass  do  I  realize  the  joyous 
significance  of  the  Saviors  words, 
"  My  Father  s  House."  Heaven  is 
home. 

(ii8) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Hie  Gathering  Place. 

Life  changes  all  our  thoughts  of  heaven. 

At  first  we  think  of  streets  of  gold, 

Of  gates  of  pearl  and  dazzling  light, 

Of  shining  wings  and  robes  of  white, 

And  things  all  strange  to  mortal  sight. 

But  in  the  afterward  of  years 

It  is  a  more  familiar  place — 

A  home  unhurt  by  sighs  or  tears, 

Where  waiteth  many  a  well-known  face. 

With  passing  months  it  comes  more  near; 

It  grows  more  real  day  by  day; 

Not  strange  or  cold,  but  very  dear, 

The  glad  homeland  not  far  away. 

Where  none  are  sick  or  poor  or  lone. 

The  place  where  we  shall  find  our  own. 

And  as  we  think  of  all  we  knew 

Who  there  have  met  to  part  no  more, 

Our  longing  hearts  desire  home,  too. 

With  all  the  strife  and  trouble  o'er. 

— Browning. 

(119) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Objections  Answered. 

Dr.  Harbaugh  has  stated  and 
answered  the  following  objections 
which  we  quote  from  his  excellent 
book  : 

There  are  persons  who,  though 
they  have  any  amount  of  positive 
proof  in  favor  of  a  subject,  never- 
theless doubt,  as  long  as  certain  diffi- 
culties existing  in  their  minds  are 
not  removed. 

They  can  always  tell  what  they 
do  not  believe,  and  why  they  do 
not  believe  it ;  but  they  can  not 
so  well  say  what  they  do  believe, 
and  why  they  believe  it. 

(120) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Many  objections  may  be  found 
always,  even  against  a  true  doc- 
trine. Nothing  is  easier  than  to 
show  that  there  are  difficulties 
which  lie  in  the  way  of  truth.  Let 
it,  however,  be  remembered  that  if 
any  doctrine  can  be  proved  to  be 
true  by  positive  evidence,  a  thous- 
and objections  that  may  be  raised 
against  it  cannot  prove  it  untrue. 
It  remains  true,  even  if  we  should 
not  be  able  to  answer  the  objec- 
tions ;  our  failing  to  answer  them 
proves  nothing  but  our  own  limited 
knowledge.  We  must  learn,  first 
of  all,  in  our  search  of  truth,  that 
our  own  ignorance  is  not  its  meas- 
ure.    In  regard  to  the  doctrine  be- 

(I2I) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


for  us,  however,  we  discover  no 
objections  which  may  not  be  fully 
answered. 

I.      THE   GREAT  CHANGE  WHICH  WILL 
TAKE  PLACE  IN  DEATH. 

'*We  shall  all  be  changed."  The 
change  which,  according  to  the 
Scriptures,  is  to  take  place,  espe- 
cially in  our  bodies  at  the  transition 
of  death,  will  in  many  respects  be 
great. 

A  great  change  may  take  place, 
both  in  the  body  and  spirit,  with- 
out destroying  those  marks  of 
identity  and  those  peculiarities  of 
character  by  which  recognition 
takes  place.  The  change  which 
(122) 


CORREGGIO. 

LAZARUS  RESTORED  TO  HIS  SISTERS. 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


comes  with  death  will  consivSt,  not 
in  adding  any  thing  entirely  or  es- 
sentially new,  but  only  in  an  un- 
folding and  perfecting  of  what  is 
already  at  hand  in  us.  There  is  a 
great  difference  between  a  small 
sapHng  and  a  full  grown  tree  ;  and 
yet  great  as  the  apparent  change 
is,  the  marks  of  its  identity  con- 
tinue through  all  the  stages  of  its 
evolution.  In  the  different  stages 
of  human  life,  through  infancy, 
childhood,  youth,  manhood,  and 
age,  the  same  being  continues,  car- 
rying with  him  his  peculiarities,  and 
preserves  from  one  stage  to  the 
other  those  marks  by  which  he  is 
recognized  as  the  same  person. 
(125) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


There  are  features  which  run  with 
marked  prominence  through  all 
these  transitions. 

That  the  change  which  awaits  us 
is  one,  not  of  transformation,  but 
of  evolution,  is  evident  from  Scrip- 
ture representations  of  it.  The 
apostle  Paul  represents  the  new 
celestial  man  as  rising  out  of  the 
old  earthly  man,  as  the  new  grain 
rises  out  of  the  old.  The  change 
is  not  so  much  in  the  outward 
form  as  in  the  inward  potence 
which  fills  out  and  pervades  the 
form  with  a  new  life.  The  orig- 
inal form  will  remain  while  the 
elements  of  corruption  will  be 
changed  into  that  of  incorruption. 
(126) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


The  dishonor,  which  in  various 
ways,  and  in  various  degrees,  at- 
taches to  our  present  life,  will 
give  way  to  glory.  Weakness  will 
be  swallowed  up  in  power.  The 
natural  will  pass  into  the  spiritual, 
the  mortal  into  immortality.  Now, 
all  these  changes  are  but  risings 
from  a  lower  to  a  higher  life, 
which,  though  they  involve  great 
changes,  are  not  in  form,  but  in 
power.  They  may  all  take  place 
without  radically  changing  those 
familiar  peculiarities  which  make 
recognition  possible.  As  in  life  a 
person  is  changed  from  a  sinner 
to  a  saint,  while  he  still  retains, 
to  a  great  extent,  the  same  ex- 
(127) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


ternal  features  ;  so,  the  elements  of 
power,  glory  and  immortality  may 
be  unfolded  in  us,  in  our  glorifi- 
cation, without  producing  any  more 
change  in  the  appearance  of  that 
side  of  our  being  with  which  we 
were  wont  to  converse  with  our 
friends,  than  the  positive  condition 
of  electricity  does  upon  that  which 
it  fills  with  its  mysterious  fluid. 

The  transfiguration  of  Christ 
upon  the  mount  was  no  doubt  in- 
tended, in  part,  to  give  the  apos- 
tles a  glimpse  of  what  they  might 
expect,  w^hen,  "he  should  change 
their  vile  bodies,  that  they  might 
be  fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious 
body."  There  the  change  which 
(t28) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


took  place  in  their  Master  was  great: 
"  The  fashion  of  his  countenance  was 
altered,  and  his  raiment  was  white 
and  glistening,"  ''and  his  face  did 
shine  as  the  sun;"  yet  still  they 
knew  him  from  the  rest  amid  that 
" excellent  glory,"  and  they  "were 
eye-witnesses  of  his  majesty."  His 
glorious  person  was  still,  as  to  its 
external  marks,  what  it  was  before, 
and  could  be  recognized  as  his 
through  the  veil  of  holy  light  which 
enshrouded  it.  May  not  the  same 
be  the  case  with  us  in  our  glorified 
bodies  ? 


(129) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


II.     IF    IT    WERE    TRUE,   IT    WOULD  BE 
MORE  CLEARLY  REVEALED. 

It  is  said  by  way  of  objection  :  If 
this  were  a  doctrine,  true  and  to  be 
believed,  it  would  have  been  more 
directly,  clearly,  and  fully  revealed. 
If  true,  this  doctrine  is  full  ot  conso- 
lation ;  and  it  is  therefore  natural 
and  reasonable,  it  is  said,  to  think 
that  He,  who  would  not  deprive 
His  people  of  any  source  of  comfort, 
would  have  spoken  clearly  on  such 
an  important  point. 

Let  us  look  at  this  objection.  The 
fact  that  this  doctrine  is  not  often, 
and  then  only  incidentally,  mentioned 
is  rather  a  proof  in  its  favor  than 
(130) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


against  it.  It  shows  that  the  truth 
of  it  was  taken  for  granted  at  the 
time  when  it  was  thus  incidentally 
alluded  to — it  was  not  necessary  to 
propound  it  formally  as  a  doctrine, 
but  merely  to  allude  to  it  as  some- 
thing already  universally  believed. 
All  Scripture  allusions  to  it  are  made 
upon  the  supposition  that  it  is  an 
acknowledged  truth.  In  this  view 
of  the  matter  an  incidental  allusion  is 
even  stronger  than  a  direct  assertion ; 
for  while  it  has  all  the  authority  of  a 
direct  testimony,  it  shows  at  the  same 
time  the  absence  of  all  disposition  or 
intention  to  deceive.  Thus,  if  I  say, 
I  traveled  under  the  rays  of  the  hot 
sun,  this  is  the  strongest  possible 

8  (131) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


proof  that  it  was  a  clear  day  and  in 
the  summer. 

Moreover,  there  are  many  of  the 
most  important  doctrines  of  the  Scrip- 
tures resting  on  precisely  the  same 
ground  as  this,  in  this  respect.  Such, 
for  instance,  are  the  doctrine  of  the 
Holy  Trinity,  the  necessity  of  making 
a  profession  of  religion  by  a  connec- 
tion with  the  church,  the  immortality 
of  the  soul,  female  communion,  family 
worship,  and  other  less  prominent 
doctrines  or  duties,  concerning  which 
we  have  no  doubt.  Such  doctrines 
existed  in  the  church  from  the  begin- 
ning, were  carried  down  its  stream  in 
the  flow  of  their  own  life ;  they 
needed  no  positive  statement,  for 
(132) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


they  were  established  by  the  same 
evidence  by  which  the  mission  of  the 
church  was  established,  and  the  mis- 
sion of  those  who  alluded  to  these 
doctrines  as  true.  Just  so  in  refer- 
ence to  this  doctrine ;  its  existence 
in  the  favor  of  those  inspired  persons 
who  allude  to  it  as  true  is  the  strong- 
est evidence  of  its  truth. 

HI.      THE     HEAVENLY     LIFE     WILL  BE 
MUCH  HIGHER  THAN  THIS. 

It  has  been  thought  that  heavenly 
recognition  cannot  take  place,  be- 
cause the  heavenly  life  will  be  so 
much  higher  than  this,  and  so  far 
different  from  it,  that  all  earthly  rela- 
tions, connections  and  dependencies 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


must  be  swallowed  up,  superseded, 
or  set  aside. 

To  this  we  reply  that  it  is  Scrip- 
tural to  say  that  the  future  life  will 
not  be  a  destruction  of  this,  but  a 
continuation  of  it.  We  shall  be  higher 
beings,  and  different  beings  there, 
but  not  other  beings.  All  our  affec- 
tions will  be  vastly  elevated,  sancti- 
fied, increased  and  perfected,  without 
any  violent  severing  of  them  from 
their  past  life  on  earth.  Here  on 
earth  when  one  becomes  a  Christian, 
he  rises  into  higher  relations  and 
affinities  than  those  in  which  he  stood 
before  ;  but  this  does  not  annihilate 
his  previous  being  ;  it  only  perfects 
it.  He  does  not,  for  instance,  become 
(134) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


unfit  for  family  relations  and  social 
life  in  general  by  this  advancement, 
but  rather  the  contrary.  His  new 
relation  to  Christ  does  not  supersede 
and  destroy  his  old  relations  to  his 
friends  and  fellow  men.  His  life 
flows  on  as  before,  only  in  a  holier 
stream.  His  affections  still  radiate, 
but  with  a  serener  and  heavenlier 
light.  So  in  heaven  ;  though  intro- 
duced into  higher  and  holier  grades 
of  social  life,  the  soul  will  still  draw 
after  it  what  it  loved  in  its  state  of 
grace  on  earth,  and  continue  to  turn 
towards  it  with  the  sweetest  remem- 
brance. 


(135) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


IV.      IT  WOULD  INTRODUCE  PARTIALITY 
INTO  HEAVEN. 

Will  it  not  introduce  partiality  into 
heaven  ?  This  question  indicates  an 
objection  which  is  at  first  sight  some- 
what plausible.  It  can,  however,  be 
easily  and  satisfactorily  answered. 
Should  we  even  find  it  necessary  to 
believe  that  in  heaven  friends  would 
love  friends  more  than  other  saints, 
this  could  be  without  any  evil  effects. 
For  there  no  feelings  of  jealousy  will 
exist  to  take  cognizance  of  it.  No 
one  will  stop,  in  the  general  joy  and 
harmony  which  will  characterize  the 
heavenly  intercourse,  to  measure, 
with  suspicious  eye,  the  affections  of 
(136) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


other  saints,  much  less  desire  to 
attract  any  to  himself  to  the  dispar- 
agement of  others.  Suppose  it  even 
to  be  known  there  that  kindred  and 
kindred  are  peculiarly  attached,  it 
could  not  be  regarded  as  an  evil  in 
heaven.  Do  Christians  here  on  earth 
feel  jealous  of  other  Christians,  be- 
cause they  know  them  to  be  peculi- 
arly attached  to  their  own  kindred  ? 
Certainly  not.  They  rather  praise 
them  for  it,  and  themselves  rejoice  in 
it ;  and  will  not  heaven  be  entirely 
free  from  all  those  unworthy  feelings 
which  would  create  difficulty  there  in 
the  intercourse  of  saints  made  perfect 
in  holy  love  ? 

In  this  life  we  may  act  from  various 
(137) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


motives,  all  of  which  may  be  right 
ones,  though  some  may  be  subordi- 
nate to  others  ;  so  in  heaven,  we  may 
exercise  various  affections,  and  if  we 
should  even  grant  that  some  are  less 
high  and  excellent  than  others,  they 
would  not  thereby  be  rendered  im- 
proper. A  small  light  is  not  dark- 
ness because  it  is  not  so  large  and 
bright  as  a  larger  one.  We  might  as 
well  say  that  children,  in  loving  one 
another,  must  necessarily  disparage 
their  parents — or  because  stars  shine 
they  dishonor  the  moon.  In  this 
world  saints  have  their  chief  enjoy- 
ments in  direct  communion  with  God, 
but  this  does  not  exclude  and  make 
unlawful  those  thousand  little  every- 
(138) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


day  joys  which  fall  to  their  lot,  and 
make  up  their  incidental  and  subordi- 
nate comforts. 

V.     THE  LOVE  OF  CHRIST  WILL  OCCUPY 
US  ENTIRELY. 

It  is  said  that  in  heaven  Jesus  and 
His  love  will  employ  our  affections  so 
entirely  and  eternally  that  we  shall 
have  no  time  nor  desire  to  know  and 
to  be  concerned  about  our  friends  ; 
and  that  even  a  wish  to  know  friends, 
and  to  renew  our  particular  affection 
for  them,  would  be  a  disparagement 
to  Christ.  Some  have  expressed 
themselves  with  great  extravagance 
on  this  point.  This  objection  has  the 
recommendation  of  having  a  zeal  for 
(139) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Christ,  but  it  will  hardly  be  found  to 
be  according  to  knowledge.  Such 
expressions  must  be  placed  in  the 
same  class  with  those  which  speak, 
with  affected  zeal,  of  the  pure  spirit- 
uality of  heaven — as  not  a  place, 
but  merely  a  state ;  affirming  that 
where  Christ  is,  there  is  heaven,  even 
if  it  were  on  earth  or  in  hell.  It  is 
true  that  with  Christ,  and  with  the 
love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  our 
hearts,  we  have  heavenly  joys,  but  we 
are  nevertheless  not  in  heaven,  unless 
we  are  in  that  place  which  is  heaven. 
Where  Christ  is  now,  there  is  heaven  ; 
and  it  is  nowhere  else,  be  our  feel- 
ings what  they  may.  In  like  manner, 
we  may  say  that  to  be  with  Christ, 
(140) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


to  behold  His  glory,  and  to  enjoy 
His  love,  is  the  chief  attraction  of 
the  heavenly  world  ;  but  the  Scrip- 
tures nowhere  countenance  the  idea 
that  we  shall  do  nothing  there  but 
stand  like  statues  and  gaze  at 
Him.  Such  fancies  betray  a  strange 
superficial  extravagance.  While  the 
Lamb  is  the  bright  and  glorious 
center,  in  whom  all  the  rays  of 
heavenly  love  meet.  He  is,  at  the 
same  time,  the  Sun  which  warms, 
animates  and  enlivens  all  the  so- 
cial circles  of  the  saints  which  sur- 
round Him.  While  the  saints  love 
Him  in  the  light  and  life  of  that 
love  which  He  sheds  around  Him, 
they  also  see  each  other  better 
(141) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


and  love  each  other  more  in  the 
same  blessed  light  ;  just  as  the 
brightness  which  makes  the  nat- 
ural sun  itself  so  prominent  to  our 
view  is  the  means,  at  the  same 
time,  of  enabling  us  to  see  and 
know  the  objects  around  us.  His 
presence  there  no  more  destroys 
the  social  life  and  love  of  heaven, 
than  the  sun  makes  the  earth  dark. 

It  might  with  the  same  propriety 
be  argued  that  particular  attachments 
among  saints  on  earth  were  a  dis- 
paragement to  Christ,  and  hindered 
our  love  to  Him.  This,  however,  is 
not  the  case,  but  it  is  the  direct 
contrary ;  for  Christ  by  His  example 
encouraged  particular  friendships — 
(142) 


WITH  THE  FAMILY  AT  BETHANY. 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


the  family  of  Bethany  and  the  be- 
loved disciple"  shared  His  peculiar 
affections.  In  like  manner  children 
that  love  each  other  are  not  thereby 
hindered,  but  assisted,  in  loving  their 
parents.  It  cannot,  therefore,  be, 
that  such  particular  attachments  can, 
in  any  way,  interfere  with  full,  free 
and  entire  love  to  Christ.  They  do 
not  so  interfere  in  this  life,  and  it 
cannot  be  shown  that  they  will  in  the 
Hfe  to  come.  Love  to  Him,  and  love 
to  the  brethren,  cannot  be  disjoined  ; 
for  the  same  life  of  love  which  joins 
us  to  Him  joins  us  to  each  other. 
Where  the  one  exists  the  other  must 
also  be  found  ;  and  the  more  we 
love  our  friends,  whom  we  have  seen, 
(145) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


the  more  shall  we  love  Christ,  whom 
we  have  not  seen. 

VI.    Christ's   answer  to  the 

SADDUCEES. 

An  objection  has  been  built  upon 
the  answer  which  Christ  gave  to  the 
Sadducees,  when  they  asked  Him 
whose  wife  she,  who  had  been  the 
wife  of  seven,  should  be  in  the 
resurrection.  The  answer  of  the 
Savior  was :  "  Ye  do  err,  not  know- 
ing the  Scriptures,  nor  the  power  of 
God.  For  in  the  resurrection  they 
neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in 
marriage,  but  are  as  the  angels  of 
God  in  heaven."  Matt.  xxii.  29,  30. 
All  that  is  here  asserted  is,  that  in 
(T46) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


heaven  they  do  not  marry — it  is  by 
no  means  either  said  or  intimated 
that  they  do  not  know  each  other. 
The  Savior  could  have  met  the 
difficulty  which  they  sought,  in  this 
instance,  to  throw  in  the  way  of  the 
doctrine  of  the  resurrection,  by 
simply  denying  the  doctrine  of 
heavenly  recognition ;  and  we  may 
suppose  that  he  would  have  done  so, 
were  it  not  true.  He  could  have 
said  to  them  :  Your  objection  amounts 
to  nothing ;  for  there  is  no  knowl- 
edge of  acquaintances,  and  no  ex- 
tension of  earthly  ties  beyond  the 
grave — even  husbands  and  wives 
will  have  no  knowledge  of  each  other 
there ;  and  hence  your  question, 
(T47) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Whose  wife  shall  she  be  of  the  seven? 
has  no  force  by  way  of  objection. 
He  does  not,  however,  resort  to  this 
simple  way  of  silencing  them.  He 
does  not  say  that  they  shall  not  know 
each  other,  but  only  that  they  shall 
not  marry  nor  be  given  in  marriage. 
The  reason  he  gives  for  this  is  plain 
and  proper — ''they  are  as  the  angels 
of  God  in  heaven"  — or  as  Luke 
says,  *'  neither  can  they  die  any 
more  ;  for  they  are  equal  to  the 
angels;"  not  in  every  respect  —  not 
certainly  in  the  being  strangers  to 
each  other  eternally  ;  but  they  are 
equally  immortal  as  the  angels : 
they  die  no  more."  Because  they 
die  no  more,  they  can  need  no  more 
(148) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


reparations  for  losses  through  death 
by  the  means  of  the  marriage  institu- 
tion :  hence  this  institution  will  not 
continue  in  heaven.  This  does  not, 
in  the  least,  intimate  that  the  affec- 
tions begotten,  and  the  friendships 
formed  in  this  relation,  shall  not 
be  renewed  and  continue  in  the 
heavenly  social  life. 

This  passage  may  be  paraphrased 
thus:  ''Ye  Sadducees,  who  deny 
that  there  is  a  resurrection,  and  sup- 
pose that  this  instance  gives  you 
ground  for  such  denial,  do  err  in  re- 
gard to  the  nature  of  the  future  life. 
The  reason  of  your  error  is  ignorance 
of  the  Scriptural  idea  of  the  reason  of 
the  matrimonial  institution,  which  is 

9  (149) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


to  people  the  earth,  with  the  final 
object  also  of  peopling  heaven,  by 
the  increase  of  holy  families.  But 
there  being  no  more  deaths  in 
heaven,  the  reason  which  induced 
Moses  to  command  that  the  brother 
should  take  her  to  wife,  viz.  to  '  raise 
up  seed  unto  his  brother,'  does  not 
there  exist  ;  consequently,  the 
marriage  institution  will  not  continue 
in  the  resurrection  ;  and  hence  your 
objection  to  the  resurrection  on  this 
ground  has  no  force." 


(150) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


VII.  WE  SHOULD  MISS   SOME  WHO  WILL 
NOT  BE  THERE. 

"There  shall  be  no  more  death,  neither 
sorrow,  nor  crying;  neither  shall  there  be 
any  more  pain;  for  the  former  things  are 
passed  away." — A  voice  from  Heaven,  Rev. 
xxi.  4. 

It  has  been  objected,  that  if  we 
shall  be  able  to  know  our  friends  in 
heaven,  we  should  miss  some  who 
will  not  be  there.  This,  it  has 
been  thought,  would  introduce  pain 
and  distress  into  heaven  ;  for  it  can- 
not be,  it  is  supposed,  that  even  in 
heaven  we  should  be  able  to  endure 
without  sorrow  the  absence  of  our 
friends — especially  the  thought  that 
they  are  in  the  world  of  despair. 
(151) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


I.  In  death,  all  ties  which  are  not 
sanctified,  and  thus  made  eternal 
by  the  life  and  power  of  grace,  must 
be  dropped  and  left  behind. 

There  are  many  ties  which  are  in 
no  sense  and  in  no  degree  gracious, 
ties  that  have  not  been  formed  by 
the  life  of  religion,  and  which  are 
not  sustained  and  pervaded  by  it 
There  are  ties  in  the  formation  of 
which  religion  has  not  in  the  least 
been  recognized,  and  which  have 
no  religious  end  in  view.  All  those 
between  saints  and  sinners  are  of  this 
kind.    These  must  perish  in  death. 

Let  it  be  well  remembered  that 
even  the  ties  of  kindred  are  merely 
and  entirely  natural  and  destructive, 
(152) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


unless  they  are  elevated  and  sancti- 
fied by  grace. 

2.  We  have  positive  and  actual 
evidence  that  the  knowledge  of  the 
fate  of  those  that  are  lost,  even 
where  affection  for  them  once  was 
strong,  is  not  incompatible  with  the 
full  and  happy  enjoyment  of  heavenly 
felicity. 

The  Savior,  for  instance,  is  per- 
fectly happy  in  heaven,  with  a  full 
knowledge  of  the  situation  of  the  lost, 
and  yet  He  once  loved  them.  Will 
any  one  say  that  His  love  for  them 
was  not  once  as  strong  as  ours  can 
possibly  be  for  any  of  our  friends? 
He  certainly  did  for  these  sinners 
what  none  of  us  would  do  for  our 
(153) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


kindred,  while  they  are  enemies  to 
us.  He  sticketh  closer  than  a 
brother."  Yet  on  account  of  their 
impenitency,  His  feelings  towards 
them  have  undergone  a  change ;  so 
that  though  He  once  distressed  Him- 
self on  their  account,  their  situation 
does  not  now  interfere  with  His 
heavenly  felicity.  Once  their  con- 
dition cost  Him  tears,  but  now  He 
weeps  no  more !  May  not  we  expect 
a  similar  change  to  take  place  in  our 
feelings?  Now,  nature  rebels 
against  that  thought,  and  is  far  from 
desiring  such  a  change ;  yet  this  is 
not  the  first  time  that  God's  good- 
ness and  grace  have  done  for  us  far 
better  than  our  wishes. 

(154) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


The  same  may  be  said  of  the 
angels  in  glory.  They  once  loved 
those  angels  which  are  now  fallen. 
They  know  also  their  doom  and  pres- 
ent situation.  Who  will  say  that 
the  love  for  each  other  which  reigned 
in  the  holy  hearts  of  angels,  before 
the  fall  of  some,  was  not  as  strong 
and  tender  as  kindred  love  on  earth 
can  possibly  be — especially  as  all 
earthly  affection  is  tainted  more  or 
less  by  sin.  Yet  we  know  that 
their  joys  in  heaven  are  not  for 
one  moment  interrupted  by  painful 
thoughts  of  their  lost  companions. 
In  like  manner  also  angels  in  heaven 
are  acquainted  with  the  situation  of 
lost  spirits  of  men — those  in  whom 
(155) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


they  were  interested,  over  whose 
repentance  they  waited  to  rejoice ; 
and  though  they  are  better  acquainted 
than  we  can  possibly  be  with  the 
deep  woes  of  the  second  death,  yet 
they  weep  not,  nor  grieve,  over  their 
hapless  fate.  They  contemplate  the 
judgment  of  a  righteous  God,  not 
with  regret  and  sorrow,  but  with 
humility  and  adoring  reverence. 

Though  we  may  not  feel  ourselves 
able  to  decide  correctly  as  to  the 
way  and  manner  in  which  this  matter 
is  adjusted,  yet  seeing  that  a  similar 
relation  between  Christ,  angels,  and 
the  lost  involves  no  difficulty,  we 
have  satisfactory  reason  to  rest 
calmly  in  the  patience  of  faith,  and 
(156) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


not  to  suffer  difficulties,  which  we 
see  have  been  and  can  be  removed, 
to  weaken  or  disturb  our  faith  in 
the  consoling-  doctrine  of  heavenly 
recognition. 

3.  The  last  and  perhaps  by  far 
the  most  important  consideration  we 
have  to  offer  by  way  of  answering 
the  objection  before  us  is,  that  in 
heaven  there  will  be  such  entire 
sympathy  between  us  and  God,  that 
our  wills  will  fall  in  entirely  and 
cheerfully  with  His  will.  In  the 
language  of  another:  "We  shall 
have  no  separation  of  desires  or 
inclinations  from  Him.  We  shall 
see  that  all  He  does  is  wisest  and 
best,  and  deserving  of  our  unquali- 
(157) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


fied  approbation.  Here  we  not  un- 
frequently  revolt  against  His  appoint- 
ments, because  we  bear  within  us 
the  remains  of  a  corrupt  nature  ;  or 
because  we  do  not  fully  comprehend 
His  designs  ;  or  because  in  our 
hearts  the  affection  for  God  has  not 
that  superiority  over  our  affection 
for  the  objects  of  earth  which  it 
ought  to  have.  But  in  heaven,  where 
not  only  the  dominion  but  the  ex- 
istence of  depravity  shall  be  destroyed 
in  our  souls — in  heaven,  where  we 
shall  so  far  comprehend  the  reason 
of  God's  conduct  as  to  perceive 
that  His  attributes  must  be  destroyed 
if  He  acted  otherwise  —  in  heaven, 
where  love  to  the  creature  will  justly 
(158) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


be  subordinated  to  love  to  the  Creator, 
our  wills  shall  be  so  absorbed  in 
God's  as  to  form  but  one  with  it ; 
and  of  course  no  murmur  will  escape 
— no  pang  rend  our  hearts — for  any 
of  His  deaHngs  with  those  whom  we 
loved  on  earth." 


(159) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Not  Chai^ged  but  Glorified. 

Not  changed  but  glorified.  Oh,  beauteous 
language 

For  those  who  weep, 
Mourning   the   loss   of   some   dear  face 
departed, 

Fallen  asleep. 
Hushed  into  silence,  never  more  to  comfort 

The  hearts  of  men, 
Gone,  like  the  sunshine  of  another  country, 

Beyond  our  ken. 

O  dearest  dead,  we  saw  thy  white  soul 
shining 
Behind  the  face. 
Bright  with  the  beauty  and  celestial  glory 

Of  an  immortal  grace. 
What  wonder  that  we  stumble,  faint  and 
weeping. 
And  sick  with  fears, 
Since  thou  hast  left  us — all  alone  with 
sorrow, 
And  blind  with  tears. 

(i6o) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Can  it  be  possible  no  words  shall  welcome 

Our  coming  feet? 
How  will  it  look,  that  face  that  we  have 
cherished, 

When  next  we  meet? 
Will  it  be  changed,  so  glorified  and  saintly, 

That  we  shall  know  it  not  ? 
Will  there  be  nothing  that  will  say,  "I 
love  you," 

And  "I  have  not  forgot?" 

Oh!  faithless  heart,  the  same  loved  face 
transfigured 
Shall  meet  thee  there, 
Less  sad,  less  wistful,  in  immortal  beauty. 

Divinely  fair. 
The  mortal  veil,  washed  pure  with  many 
weepings, 
Is  rent  away, 
And   the  great  soul,  that  sat  within  its 
prison. 
Hath  found  the  day. 

(i6i) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


And  we  shall  find  once  more,  beyond 
earth's  sorrows, 
Beyond  these  skies, 
In  the  fair  city  of  the  "sure  foundations," 

Those  heavenly  eyes. 
With  the  same  welcome,  shining  thro'  their 
sweetness, 
That  met  us  here; 
Eyes,  from  whose  beauty  God  has  banished 
weeping 
And  wiped  away  the  tear. 


(162) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Extracts  from  Distinguished 
Aatl\ors. 

Dr.  Martin  Luther. 

The  following  extract  is  part  of  a 
conversation  which  took  place  be- 
tween Luther,  Justus  Jonas,  Michael 
Celius,  and  the  Counts  of  Mansfield, 
on  Wednesday  evening,  February 
17th,  1546,  at  Eisleben.  Luther 
died  next  morning,  the  i8th,  at  3 
o'clock.  It  is  said  that  during  that 
evening  which  preceded  his  death, 
"he  spake  many  earnest  words  in 
relation  to  death  and  the  eternal 
(163) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


world."  The  extract  is  taken  from 
Luther's  Works,  vol.  viii.,  p.  384. 
Jena  edition,  1562. 

''The  same  evening  Dr.  Luther 
made  remarks  on  the  question : 
Whether  in  the  future  blessed  and 
eternal  assembly  and  church  we 
shall  know  each  other.  And  as 
we  anxiously  desired  to  know  his 
opinion,  he  said :  How  did  Adam 
do?  He  had  never  in  his  life  seen 
Eve — he  lay  and  slept— yet,  when 
he  awoke,  he  did  not  say,  Whence 
did  you  come?  who  are  you?  but 
he  said :  '  This  is  now  bone  of  my 
bone,  and  flesh  of  my  flesh.'  How 
did  he  know  that  this  woman  did 
not  spring  forth  from  a  stone?  He 
(164) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


knew  it  because  he  was  full  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  and  in  possession 
of  the  true  knowledge  of  God. 
Into  this  knowledge  and  image  we 
will,  in  the  future  life,  again  be 
renewed  in  Christ ;  so  that  we  will 
know  father,  mother  and  one  an- 
other, on  sight,  better  than  did 
Adam  and  Eve." 

Melanchthon,  Cruciger,  Ole- 

vianus,  scaliger. 

Melanchthon,"  says  Bishop  Bur- 
gess, "a  few  days  before  his  death, 
told  Camerarius  that  he  trusted 
their  friendship  should  be  cultivated 
and  perpetuated  in  another  world. 
Cruciger,    another    of    the  school 

lo  (165) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


of  the  Reformers,  spoke,  in  his 
last  hours,  of  meeting  and  recog- 
nition. Casper  Olevianus,  a  divine 
of  Heidelberg,  when  his  son  had 
been  summoned  to  see  him  before 
he  should  die,  sent  to  him  also  the 
message,  that  '  he  need  not  hurry : 
they  should  see  one  another  in 
eternal  life.'  So  Joseph  Scaliger 
spoke  of  '  soon  meeting  and  embrac- 
ing, no  longer  the  subjects  of  age 
and  infirmity.'  ''  How  precious  is 
this  testimony,  in  favor  of  this 
doctrine  of  heavenly  recognition  ; 
showing  the  power  which  the  sweet 
social  attractions  of  heaven  exercised 
over  these  strong  and  earnest  minds, 
in  those  stormy  times  !  The  firma- 
(i66) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


ment  of  the  church  rolled  in  tempests, 
but  through  the  darkness  broke  this 
soft  light  from  a  serener  world  upon 
their  souls — the  more  precious  at 
such  a  time. — Harbaugh. 

Melanchthon  and  Camerarius. 

When  Melanchthon  was  near  his 
end,  his  intimate  friend  Camerarius 
visited  him  for  the  last  time.  Once 
more  the  two  friends  sat  together 
on  the  same  bench  standing  against 
the  wall,  holding  each  other  by  the 
hands.    Then   Melanchthon  began  . 

My  dear  brother,  we  have  been 
good  friends  during  forty  years, 
and  have  loved  each  other,  not  from 
interested  motives,  but  from  heart- 
(167) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


felt  affection.  We  have  both  been 
schoolmasters  and  faithful  com- 
panions, each  in  his  own  place,  and 
I  hope  to  God  our  work  has  not 
been  in  vain,  but  shall  have  produced 
great  good.  If  it  is  God's  will  that 
I  shall  die,  we  will  continue  our 
friendship  unbroken  in  the  future 
life."  Then  they  took  an  affectionate 
leave  of  each  other. 

Rev.  William  Jay. 

It  has  been  asked,  Shall  we  know 
each  other  in  heaven  ?  Suppose  you 
should  not ;  you  may  be  assured  of 
this,  that  nothing  will  be  wanting 
to  your  happiness.  But  oh !  you  say, 
how  would  the  thought  affect  me 
(i68) 


CHERUB  CHOIR. 


SIR  JOSHUA  REYNOLDS- 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


now !  There  is  the  babe  that  was 
torn  from  my  bosom ;  how  lovely 
then,  but  a  cherub  now !  There  is 
the  friend,  who  was  as  mine  own 
soul,  with  whom  I  took  sweet 
counsel,  and  went  to  the  house  of 
God  in  company.  There  is  the 
minister — whose  preaching  turned 
my  feet  into  the  path  of  peace — 
whose  words  were  to  me  a  well  of 
life.  There  is  the  beloved  mother, 
on  whose  knees  I  first  laid  my  little 
hands  to  pray,  and  whose  lips  first 
taught  my  tongue  to  pronounce  the 
name  of  Jesus !  And  are  these 
removed  from  us  for  ever?  Shall 
we  recognize  them  no  more  ? — 
Cease  your  anxieties.  Can  memory 
(171) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


be  annihilated  ?  Did  not  Peter, 
James  and  John  know  Moses  and 
Elias  ?  Does  not  the  Savior  inform 
us  that  they  who  have  made  friends 
of  the  mammon  of  unrighteousness 
shall  be  received  by  them  into  ever- 
lasting habitations  ?  Does  not  Paul 
tell  the  Thessalonians  that  they  are 
his  hope,  and  joy,  and  crown,  at 
the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ? 

Archdeacon  William  Paley. 

If  this  (Col.  i.  28)  be  rightly  in- 
terpreted, then  it  affords  the  man- 
ifest and  necessary  inference,  that 
the  saints  in  a  future  life  will 
meet  and  be  known  again  to  one 
(172) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


another ;  for  how,  without  knowing 
again  his  converts,  in  their  new 
and  glorious  state,  could  St.  Paul 
desire  or  expect  to  present  them 
at  the  last  day? 

Dr.  George  Christian  Knapp, 

Professor  of  Theology  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Halle. 

According  to  the  representations 
contained  in  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
the  saints  will  dwell  together  in  the 
future  world,  and  form,  as  it  were, 
a  kingdom  or  state  of  God.  They 
will  there  partake  of  a  common 
felicity.  Their  enjoyment  will  doubt- 
less be  very  much  heightened  by 
friendship,  and  by  their  confiding 
(173) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


intercourse  with  each  other.  We 
must,  however,  separate  all  earthly 
imperfections  from  our  conceptions 
of  this  heavenly  society.  But  that 
we  shall  there  recognize  our  former 
friends,  and  shall  be  again  associated 
with  them,  was  uniformly  believed 
by  all  antiquity.  This  idea  was 
admitted  as  altogether  rational,  and 
as  a  consoling  thought,  by  the  most 
distinguished  ancient  philosophers. 
Even  reason  regards  this  as  in  a 
high  degree  probable ;  but  to  one 
who  believes  the  Holy  Scriptures  it 
cannot  be  a  matter  of  doubt  and 
conjecture. 


(174) 


FRIENDS      IN      HE  A  V  E  N 


Rev.  Dr.  John  Tillotson, 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury . 
When  we  come  to  heaven  we 
shall  meet  with  all  those  excellent 
persons,  those  brave  minds,  those 
innocent  and  charitable  souls,  whom 
we  have  seen,  and  heard,  and  read 
of  in  the  world.  There  we  shall 
meet  many  of  our  dear  relations 
and  intimate  friends,  and  perhaps 
with  many  of  our  enemies,  to  whom 
we  shall  then  be  perfectly  reconciled, 
notwithstanding  all  the  warm  con- 
tests and  peevish  differences  which 
we  had  with  them  in  this  world, 
even  about  matters  of  religion. 
For  heaven  is  a  state  of  perfect 
love  and  friendship. 

(175) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Bishop  Hall. 

Thou  hast  lost  thy  friend: — say 
rather,  thou  hast  parted  with  him. 
That  is  properly  lost  which  is  past 
all  recovery,  which  we  are  out  of 
hope  to  see  any  more.  It  is  not 
so  with  this  friend  thou  mournest 
for;  he  is  but  gone  home  a  little 
before  thee;  thou  art  following 
him;  you  two  shall  meet  in  your 
Father's  house,  and  enjoy  each 
other  more  happily  than  you  could 
have  done  here  below. 

Melvill. 

It  is  yet  but  a  Httle  while,  and 
we  shall  be  delivered  from  the 
burden  and  the  conflict,  and,  with 

(176) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


all  those  who  have  preceded  us  in 
the  righteous  struggle,  enjoy  the 
deep  raptures  of  a  Mediator's 
presence.  Then,  reunited  to  the 
friends  with  whom  we  took  sweet 
counsel  upon  earth,  we  shall  re- 
count our  toil  only  to  heighten 
our  ecstacy;  and  call  to  mind  the 
tug  and  the  din  of  war,  only  that, 
with  a  more  bounding  throb,  and 
a  richer  song,  we  may  feel  and 
celebrate  the  wonders  of  redemp- 
tion. 

John  Calvin. 
When  Calvin  was  near  his  end, 
Farel,  his  early  and  faithful  friend, 
and    then    a    venerable     sage  of 
eighty  years,   desired  once  more  to 
(177) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


see  him  in  the  flesh.  Calvin  dis- 
suaded him — though  he  did  never- 
theless afterwards  come  from 
Neufchatel  to  Geneva,  on  foot,  to 
see  his  friend  once  more,  and  for 
the  last  time.  In  his  letter  to 
Farel,  in  which  he  takes  his  final 
leave  from  him,  as  he  then  sup- 
posed, he  says:  *'God  bless  you, 
best  and  noblest  brother;  and  if 
God  permits  you  still  longer  to 
live,  forget  not  the  tie  that  binds 
us,  which  will  be  just  as  agreeable 
to  us  in  heaven  as  it  has  been 
useful  to  the  church  on  earth." 
Rev.  John  Newton. 
I  need  not  say  to  myself,  or 
my  dear  friends  who  are  in  the 
(178) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Lord,  Quo  nunc  abibis  in  loco? 
We  know  where  they  are  and  how 
employed.  There  I  humbly  trust 
my  dear  Mary  is  waiting  for  me, 
and  in  the  Lord's  own  time  I  hope 
to  join  with  her  and  all  the  re- 
deemed in  praising  the  Lamb,  once 
upon  the  cross,  now  upon  the 
throne  of  glory. 

Rev.  Richard  Baxter. 

I  must  confess,  as  the  experience 
of  my  own  soul,  that  the  expecta- 
tion of  loving  my  friends  in  heaven 
principally  kindles  my  love  to  them 
on  earth.  If  I  thought  that  I 
should  never  know  them,  and  con- 
sequently   never   love    them  after 

(179) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


this  life  is  ended,  I  should  in  rea- 
son number  them  with  temporal 
things,  and  love  them  as  such. 
But  I  now  delight  to  converse  with 
my  pious  friends,  in  a  firm  persua- 
sion that  I  shall  converse  with  them 
for  ever;  and  I  take  comfort  in 
those  of  them  that  are  dead  or 
absent,  as  believing  I  shall  shortly 
meet  them  in  heaven  and  love 
them  with  a  heavenly  love  that 
shall  there  be  perfected. 

Dr.  Thomas  Chalmers. 

Tell  us  if  Christianity  does  not 
throw  a  pleasing  radiance  around 
childhood.  And  should  any  par- 
ent   who    hears    us   feel  softened 

(i8o) 


CHRIST  BLESSING  LITTLE  CHILDREN. 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


by  the  remembrance  of  the  light 
that  twinkled  a  few  short  months 
under  his  roof,  and  at  the  end  of 
its  little  period  expired,  we  can  not 
think  that  we  venture  too  far,  when 
we  say  that  he  has  only  to  perse- 
vere in  the  faith  and  in  the  follow- 
ing of  the  Gospel,  and  that  very 
light  will  again  shine  upon  him  in 
heaven.  The  blossom  which  with- 
ered here  upon  its  stalk  has  been 
transplanted  there  to  a  place  of  en- 
durance; and  it  will  then  gladden 
that  eye  which  now  weeps  out  the 
agony  of  an  affection  that  has  been 
sorely  wounded;  and,  in  the  name 
of  Him,  who,  if  on  earth,  would 
have  wept  along  with  them,  do  we 
(183) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


bid  all  believers  present  to  sorrow 
not  even  as  others  which  have  no 
hope;  but  to  take  comfort  in  the 
hope  of  that  country  where  there 
is  no  sorrow  and  no  separation. 

Dr.  Doddridge. 

Let  me  be  thankful  for  the 
pleasing  hope  that  though  God 
loves  my  child  too  well  to  permit 
it  to  return  to  me,  he  will  ere  long 
bring  me  to  it.  And  then  that  en- 
deared paternal  affection,  which 
would  have  been  a  cord  to  tie  me 
to  earth,  and  have  added  new 
pangs  to  my  removal  from  it,  will 
be  as  a  golden  chain  to  draw  me 
upwards,  and  add  one  further 
(184) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


charm  and  joy  even  to  Paradise 
itself.  Was  this  my  desolation? 
This  my  sorrow?  To  part  with  thee 
for  a  few  days,  that  I  might  receive 
thee  for  ever,  (Philemon,  ver.  15,) 
and  find  thee  what  thou  art?  It  is 
for  no  language  but  that  of  heaven 
to  describe  the  sacred  joy  which 
such  a  meeting  must  occasion. 

Ulrich  Zwinglius, 

The    Swiss  Reformer. 

There  you  may  hope  to  see 
the  society,  the  assembly,  and  the 
dwelling  together,  of  all  the  holy, 
wise,  faithful,  heroic,  firm  and  vir- 
tuous, who  have  lived  since  the 
beginning  of  the  world.  There  you 
(185) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


will  see  the  two  Adams,  the 
saved  and  the  Savior.  There  you 
will  see  Abel,  Enoch,  Noah,  Abra- 
ham, Isaac,  Jacob,  Judah,  Moses, 
Joshua,  Gideon,  Samuel,  Phineas, 
Elijah,  Elisha,  Isaiah,  and  the 
mother  of  God  of  whom  he  has 
prophesied.  There  you  will  see 
David,  Hezekiah,  Josiah,  John  the 
Baptist,  Peter,  Paul,  etc.  There 
you  will  see  yours  who  have  gone 
before  you,  and  all  your  forefathers 
who  have  departed  this  life  in  the 
faith.  In  a  word,  no  virtuous  per- 
son, no  holy  mind,  no  believing 
soul,  has  lived  from  the  beginning 
of  the  world,  or  shall  yet  live, 
that  you  shall  not  there  meet 
with  God. 

(i86) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Fenelon. 
If  we  are  sorrowing  under  a  mis- 
fortune, of  which  this  world  affords 
no  alleviation,  the  death  of  those 
most  dear  to  us,  let  us  humbly 
offer  to  our  God  the  beloved  whom 
we  have  lost.  And  what,  after  all, 
have  we  lost?  the  remaining  days 
of  a  being  whom  we  indeed  loved, 
but  whose  happiness  we  do  not 
consider  in  our  regret;  who,  per- 
haps, was  not  happy  here,  but  who 
certainly  must  be  much  happier 
with  God  ;  and  whom  we  shall  meet 
again,  not  in  this  dark  and  sorrow- 
ful scene,  but  in  the  bright  regions 
of  eternal  day,  and  partake  in  the 
inexpressible  happiness  of  eternity. 
(187) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


He  has  placed  the  friends  whom 
He  has  taken  from  us  in  safety,  to 
restore  them  to  us  in  eternity.  He 
has  deprived  us  of  them,  that  he 
may  teach  us  to  love  them  with  a 
pure  love,  a  love  that  we  may  en- 
joy in  His  presence  for  ever ;  He 
confers  a  greater  blessing  than  we 
were  capable  of  desiring. 

Very  soon  they  who  are  sepa- 
rated will  be  reunited,  and  there 
will  appear  no  trace  of  the  separa- 
tion. They  who  are  about  to  set 
out  on  a  journey  ought  not  to  feel 
themselves  far  distant  from  those 
who  have  gone  to  the  same  country 
a  few  days  before.  Life  is  like  a 
torrent ;  the  past  is  but  a  dream ; 
(i88) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


the  present,  while  we  are  thinking 
of  it,  escapes  us,  and  is  precipitated 
into  the  same  abyss  that  has  swal- 
lowed up  the  past;  the  future  will 
not  be  of  a  different  nature  ;  it  will 
pass  as  rapidly.  A  few  moments, 
and  a  few  more,  and  all  will  be 
ended;  what  has  appeared  long 
and  tedious  will  seem  short  when 
it  is  finished. 

Rev.  Dr.  Edwards. 

It  is  reasonable  to  believe  that 
the  saints  shall  know  that  they  had 
such  and  such  a  relation  to  one 
another  when  they  were  on  earth. 
The  father  shall  know  that  such  a 
one  was  his  child ;  the  husband 
(189) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


shall  remember  that  such  a  one 
was  his  wife ;  the  spiritual  guide 
shall  know  that  such  belonged  to 
his  flock  ;  and  so  all  other  relations 
of  persons  shall  be  renewed  and 
known  in  heaven.  The  ground  of 
which  assertion  is  this,  that  the 
soul  of  man  is  of  that  nature  that 
it  depends  not  on  the  body  and 
sense,  and,  therefore,  being  sepa- 
rated, knows  all  that  it  knew  in 
the  body.  And  for  this  reason  it  is 
not  to  be  doubted  that  it  arrives 
in  the  other  world  with  the  same 
designs  and  inclinations  it  had  here. 
So  that  the  delights  of  conversation 
are  continued  in  heaven.  Friends 
and  relations  are  familiar  and  free 
(190) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


with  one  another,  and  call  to  mind 
their  former  circumstances  and 
concerns  in  the  world,  so  far  as 
they  may  be  serviceable  to  advance 
their  happiness. 

Rev.  S.  S.  ScHxMUcker,  D.  D., 

Professor   of  Theology,  Gettysburg, 
Pennsylvania. 

And  how  could  Abraham's  bosom, 
the  region  of  the  blessed,  be  other 
than  a  state  of  enjoyment  to  the 
Christian  ?  There  we  shall  see 
Lazarus,  and  be  comforted  with 
him !  There  we  shall  see  father 
Abraham,  and  rest  from  all  our 
sorrows,  reclining  on  his  bosom  ! 
There  we  shall  see  the  ancient 
(191) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


patriarchs  and  prophets!  There  we 
shall  see  Jeremiah,  who  wept  over 
the  desolation  of  Israel;  and  Daniel, 
who,  in  defiance  of  the  king  and 
all  his  nobles,  prayed  three  times  a 
day  to  his  God,  and  whom  his  God 
saved  from  the  mouth  of  the  lions! 
There  we  shall  find  the  apostles, 
and  Luther,  and  Calvin,  and  Zwing- 
lius,  and  all  that  host  of  worthies 
of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy, 
who,  amid  a  wicked  and  perverse 
generation,  maintained  their  fidelity 
to  the  end,  and  received  not  the 
mark  of  the  beast.  How  can  the 
place  of  departed  spirits  fail  to  be 
a  place  of  joy  to  the  Chistian  ?  for 
there  he  shall  meet  all  those  pious 
(192) 


H.  HOFMANN. 

JAIRUSPRECEIVES  AGAIN  rilS  DAUGHTER. 


FRIENDS  IN 


HEAVEN 


relatives  and  friends  whom  heaven 
indulgent  gave  to  him  awhile,  and 
heaven  mysterious  soon  resumed 
again. 

Rev.  William  Dodd,  D.  D. 

This  is  the  joy,   this  is  the  grand 

source  of  consolation  under  the  loss 

of  friends, — we   shall   meet   again  ! 

They  are  delivered  from  their  trials, 

while   we   are   left   behind    a   few  ; 

weary   years   longer ;   and  behold, 

the    time    of    our    departure  also 

Cometh,  when  we  shall  follow  our 

friends,   and  be  for  ever  with  them 

and   with  the  Lord!     There    shall  | 

the  enraptured  parents  receive  again  ; 

their  much-loved  child  ;  there  shall  | 

(195)  I 
 ,  .  ,  ^  i 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


the  child,  with  transport,  meet  again 
those  parents  in  joy,  over  whose 
graves,  with  filial  duty,  he  dropped 
the  affectionate  tear  ;  there  shall 
the  disconsolate  widow  cease  her 
complaints  ;  and  her  orphans, — or- 
phans now  no  more, — shall  tell 
the  sad  tale  of  their  distress  to  the 
husband,  the  father ;  distress  even 
pleasing  to  recollect,  now  that 
happiness  is  its  result,  and  heaven 
its  end  !  There  shall  the  soft 
sympathies  of  endearing  friendship 
be  renewed ;  affectionate  sisters 
shall  congratulate  each  other,  and 
faithful  friends  again  shall  mingle 
converse,  interests,  amities,  and 
walk  high  in  bliss  with  God  Himself 
(196) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Bunyan's  Dying  Words. 

Weep  not  for  me,  but  for  your- 
selves. I  go  to  the  Father  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  will  no 
doubt  receive  me,  though  a  sinner, 
through  the  medium  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  where  I  hope  we 
shall  ere  long  meet,  to  sing  the 
new  song  and  remain  happy  for 
ever,  in  a  world  without  end. 
Amen. 

George  Herbert. 

My  hope  is  that  1  shall  shortly 
leave  this  valley  of  tears,  and  be 
free  from  all  fevers  and  pains  ; 
and,  which  will  be  a  more  happy 
condition,  I  shall  be  free  from  sin, 
(197) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


and  all  the  temptations  and  anxieties 
that  attend  it ;  and  this  being  past, 
I  shall  dwell  in  the  New  Jerusalem ; 
dwell  there  with  men  made  perfect; 
dwell  where  these  eyes  shall  see 
my  Master  and  Savior  Jesus  ;  and 
with  Him  see  my  dear  mother,  and 
all  my  relations  and  friends.  But 
I  must  die,  or  not  come  to  that 
happy  place. 

Rev.  John  James,  D.  D., 

Prebendary  of  Peters  borough. 

It  is  no  dreaming  fancy  to  ex- 
pect, that  in  another  world  we 
shall  preserve  our  identity — shall 
know  and  be  known  even  as  in 
this.  Let  the  mourner  in  Zion 
(198) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


continue  "patient  in  well-doing;" 
''looking  for  and  hasting  to  the 
coming  of  the  Lord,"  when  shall 
begin  the  reunion  of  kindred  spir- 
its, whom  in  this  world  death  had 
separated.  Parent  to  child,  sister 
to  brother,  husband  to  wife,  friend 
to  friend,  shall  then  be  restored — 
a  blessed  communion  of  saints, 
whom  nor  sin  nor  sorrow  shall 
sever  more. 

Lavel. 

Let  those  mourn  without  meas- 
ure who  mourn  without  hope.  The 
husbandman  does  not  mourn  when 
he  casts  his  seed  into  the  ground. 
He  expects  to  receive  it  again, 
(199) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


and  much  more.  The  same  hope 
have  we  respecting  our  friends 
who  have  died  in  the  faith.  ''I 
would  not  have  you  ignorant," 
says  Paul,  "concerning  them  who 
are  asleep,  that  ye  sorrow  not  as 
others  who  have  no  hope  ;  for  if 
we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and 
rose  again,  even  so  them  also 
who  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring 
with  him."  He  seems  to  say: 
"Look  not  on  the  dead  as  lost. 
They  are  not  annihilated.  Indeed, 
they  are  not  dead.  They  only 
sleep;  and  they  sleep  to  wake 
again."  You  do  not  lament  over 
your  children  or  friends,  while 
slumbering  on  their  beds.  Consider 
(200) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


death  as  a  sleep  from  which  they 
shall  certainly  awake.  Even  a 
heathen  philosopher  could  say,  that 
he  enjoyed  his  friends,  expecting 
to  part  with  them ;  and  parted 
with  them,  expecting  to  see  them 
again.  And  shall  a  heathen  excel 
a  Christian  in  bearing  affliction 
with  cheerfulness? 

Rev.  Thomas  Smyth,  D.  D. 

Can  we  not  with  David  rejoic- 
ingly declare,  "They  can  not  come 
to  us,  but  we  can  go  to  them"? 
Yes,  we  can  go  to  them.  ''They 
are  not  lost,  but  gone  before." 
There  in  that  world  of  light,  and 
love,  and  joy,  they  await  our  com- 
(201) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


ing.  There  do  they  beckon  us  to 
ascend.  There  do  they  stand 
ready  to  welcome  us.  There  may 
we  meet  them,  when  a  few  more 
suns  or  seasons  shall  have  cast 
their  departing  shadows  upon  our 
silent  grave.  Then  shall  our  joy 
be  full  and  our  sorrows  ended,  and 
all  tears  wiped  from  our  eyes. 
Death  separates,  but  it  can  never 
disunite  those  who  are  bound  to- 
gether in  Christ  Jesus.  To  them, 
death  in  his  power  of  an  endless 
separation  is  abolished.  It  is  no 
more  death,  but  a  sweet  departure, 
a  journey  from  earth  to  heaven. 
Our  children  are  still  ours.  We 
are  still  their  parents.  We  are  yet 
(202) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


one  family — one  in  memory — one  in 
hope — one  in  spirit.  Our  children 
are  yet  with  us,  and  dwell  with  us 
in  our  sweetest,  fondest  recollec- 
tions. We  too  are  yet  with  them 
in  the  bright  anticipations  of  our 
reunion  with  them,  in  the  glories 
of  the  upper  sanctuary.  We  min- 
gle together  indeed  no  more  in 
sorrow  and  in  pain, 

But  we  shall  join  love's  buried  ones  again 
In  endless  bands,  and  in  eternal  peace. 

Rev.  Theophilus  Stork,  D.  D. 

The  spiritual  world  is  no  longer 
a  region  of  shadows,  for  loved  and 
cherished  friends  dwell  there.  Fa- 
miliar  voices   are   speaking  there. 

12  (203) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Hearts,  whose  pulses  of  love  we 
have  felt  here,  throb  there  un- 
changed, except  as  their  earthly 
graces  have  brightened  into  a  heav- 
enly glory.  If  it  is  home  to  dwell 
with  those  we  love,  how  surely  and 
rapidly  homes  are  building  for  us 
in  the  unseen  world.  The  cloud  of 
witnesses  is  gathering,  and,  when 
we  depart  from  earth,  we  shall  not 
go  as  exiles  to  a  land  of  strangers. 

How  beautiful  is  that  description 
of  the  welcome  of  the  new-born 
soul  to  the  spirit-land  by  the  an- 
gels, whose  every  look  was  tender- 
ness and  every  utterance  musical 
with  joy  : 

(204) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


"Welcome  to  heaven,  dear  brother,  wel- 
come home! 

Welcome  to  thine  inheritance  of  life! 

Welcome  forever  to  thy  Savior's  joy! 

Thy  work  is  done,  thy  pilgrimage  is  past; 

Thy  guardian  angel's  vigil  is  fulfill 'd; 

Thy  parents  await  thee  in  the  bowers  of 
bliss ; 

Thy  infant  babes  have  woven  wreaths  for 
thee; 

Thy  brethren,  who  have  entered  into  rest. 
Long  for  thy  coming ;  and  the  angel  choirs 
Are  ready  with  their  symphonies  of  praise." 

How  dear  to  Christian  hope  is 
the  promise  of  Jesus  to  the  sor- 
rowing disciples  just  before  his  de- 
parture :  ''I  go  to  prepare  a  place 
for  you."  And  is  it  irreverent  to 
think  that  all  the  loved  in  Jesus 
who  depart  from  us  are  going  to 
(205) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


prepare  a  place,  a  home  for  us? 
And  when  that  place  is  thus  pre- 
pared, the  touch  of  the  angel  of 
death  to  our  own  dying  lips  is 
but  the  kiss  of  welcome  to  that 
eternal  home. 

Lift  up  your  tearful  eyes,  ye 
children  of  sadness  and  bereave- 
ment, and  behold  that  great  cloud 
of  witnesses  !  Look  up  to  Jesus, 
''the  author  and  finisher  of  our 
faith."  The  departure  of  loved  ones 
is  a  sorrow  which  shades  the 
earth,  but  opens  heaven.  How 
these  witnesses  by  their  memories 
consecrate  and  transfigure  our 
homes  on  earth.  The  child  de- 
parted may  now  be  sitting  in  the 
(206) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


midst  of  us,  like  the  child  whom 
Jesus  once  placed  in  the  midst  of 
his  disciples,  to  reveal  to  the  heart 
the  spirit  of  heaven.  It  may  be 
near  to  whisper  messages  from  the 
Father  more  directly  to  the  soul. 
Every  Christian  friend  departed 
may  in  spirit  be  walking  with  us 
by  the  way,  causing  our  hearts  to 
rejoice  within  us  by  opening  to  us 
the  deep  things  of  God,  though, 
like  the  disciples  of  old,  our  eyes 
are  holden  that  we  see  it  not. 
Yes,  we  are  encompassed  with  a 
cloud  of  witnesses,  who,  through 
faith  and  patience,  now  inherit  the 
promises.  And  they  speak  to  us, 
and  beckon  us  to  their  bright  and 
(207) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


happy  home.  The  departed  mother 
may  be  one  of  the  angels  who 
watch  over  the  child.  The  glorified 
child  may  come  with  consolation  to 
the  weeping  mother.  And  while 
we  linger  at  the  tomb  of  the  loved, 
whither  we  have  gone  to  embalm 
them  anew  in  our  memory,  they 
may  be  standing  as  it  were  behind 
us,  as  the  risen  Jesus  stood  behind 
Mary  at  the  sepulchre.  They  do 
not  call  us  by  name,  and  reveal 
their  presence  as  Jesus  revealed 
Himself  to  Mary ;  yet  they  may 
whisper  thoughts  within  our  hearts 
which  bid  us  turn  and  follow  them 
in  the  path  of  their  bright  ascen- 
sion. 

(208) 


MARY  AT  THE 


SEPULCHER. 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


These  witnesses  make  the  spirit- 
ual world  real  to  the  mind  and 
heart,  and  hallow  this  world  by 
their  memories  and  purity.  They 
speak  from  the  heavens  as  all-en- 
compassing angels.  They  utter  a 
glorious  testimony  on  earth,  and 
brighten  to  faith  the  unseen  world. 
How  beautiful  the  ministry  of  these 
ascended  spirits !  How  bright  and 
lovely  the  visions  of  our  heavenly 
home,  as  we  think  of  the  many 
friends  and  loved  ones  that  have 
been  gathered  from  our  earthly 
households  into  that  immortal  com- 
pany !  Ye  heavenly  witnesses,  the 
cloud  of  shining  ones,  compass  us 
about  with  your  sacred  memories  ; 
(211) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


with  the  testimonies  of  your  holy 
lives  and  peaceful  deaths ;  with 
the  ministries  which  are  still  per- 
mitted you  in  the  Father's  Provi- 
dence. Compass  us  about  that  we 
may  "run  with  patience  the  race 
that  is  set  before  us,  looking  unto 
Jesus,"  until  we  are  taken  into 
your  bright  companionship,  into 
the  pure  and  unending  fellowship 
of  the  redeemed.  And,  oh,  what 
unspeakable  ecstacy  of  joy,  when 
the  veil  is  lifted,  and  we  see 
these  witnesses  that  encompassed 
our  path,  and  with  them  behold 
the  Lamb  in  the  midst  of  the 
throne !  And  in  that  final  apoca- 
lypse of  the  spiritual  world  we 
(212) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


shall  see  the  loved  ones  gone  be- 
fore, and  know  them  as  they  wel- 
come us  to  the  heavenly  home. 
How  beautiful  and  true  is  that 
description  of  Bickersteth  of  the 
parent  and  the  children  meeting 
in  heaven ! 

"And  when  I  saw  my  little  lambs  un- 
changed, 

And  heard  them  fondly  call  me  by  my 
name, 

'Then  is  the  bond  of  parent  and  of  child 
Indissoluble,'  I  exclaim'd,  and  drew 
Them  closer  to  my  heart  and  wept  for 
joy." 

James  M.  MacDonald. 

It    would    not    be    the  heaven 

which  the  Bible   promises,  though 

all  our  friends  were  there,  without 

(213) 


/ 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


the  presence  of  the  blessed  Re- 
deemer. It  is  to  see  Jesus  and 
be  like  Him  upon  which  our 
hearts  should  be  principally  set. 
But  there  need  be  no  doubt,  on 
this  account,  about  our  knowing 
in  heaven  those  whom  we  knew 
and  loved  on  earth.  Indeed,  such 
knowledge  will  serve  to  discover 
to  us,  more  fully,  the  glory  and 
the  honor  due  to  the  blessed  Re- 
deemer. .  .  The  purity  of  every 
saved  sinner  will  reflect  the  infinite 
purity  of  the  Lamb  in  whose 
blood  they  have  washed  their 
robes  and  made  them  white.  To 
admire  the  silver  beauty  of  the 
moon  and  planets  of  our  nocturnal 
(214) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


heavens,  is  but  another  way  of 
admiring  the  light  of  that  superior, 
central  orb,  which  they  do  but 
reflect.  To  know,  therefore,  and 
love  our  friends,  when  they  are 
made  to  reflect  more  perfectly 
their  Redeemer's  glory  in  heaven, 
is  but  another  mode  of  adoring 
Him  who  is  '*the  light  thereof." 

Christian  fellowship  is  now  found 
to  be  one  of  the  chief  sources  of 
pious  joy.  The  hearts  of  Chris- 
tians, as  they  talk  of  the  things 
of  the  kingdom,  and  of  God's 
gracious  dealings  with  their  souls, 
often  burn  within"  them ;  and 
seasons  of  worship  become  peculiar 
seasons  of  eternal  love  and  joy. 
(215) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


We  sing  : 

Our  souls  thy  love  together  knit, 

Cemented,  mixed  in  one, 
One  hope,  one  heart,  one  mind,  one  voice, 

'Tis  heaven  on  earth  begun. 

Our  hearts  have  often  burned  within, 

And  glowed  with  sacred  fire. 
While  Jesus  spake  and  fed  and  blessed. 

And  filled  the  enlarged  desire. 

Or  as  in  another  sweet  hymn : 

Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds 
Our  hearts  in  Christian  love, 

The  fellowship  of  kindred  minds 
Is  like  to  that  above. 

Before  our  Father's  throne, 

We  pour  our  ardent  prayers; 
Our  fears,  our  hopes,  our  aims  are  one, 

Our  comforts  and  our  cares. 

(216) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


We  share  our  mutual  woes, 

Our  mutual  burdens  bear, 
And  often  for  each  other  flows 

The  sympathizing  tear. 

When  we  asunder  part. 

It  gives  us  inward  pain; 
But  we  shall  still  be  joined  in  heart. 

And  hope  to  meet  again. 

From  sorrow,  toil  and  pain, 

And  sin  we  shall  be  free ; 
And  perfect  love  and  friendship  reign, 

Through  all  eternity. 

My  Father  s  House : "  It  is 
true  we  shall  have  no  ''mutual 
burdens"  to  bear  in  heaven,  and 
shall  never  shed  for  each  other 
''the  sympathizing  tear,"  even  as 
we  shall  never  "asunder  part;" 
(217) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


but    shall    we    have    no  •'mutual 

joys    to    share?"      Shall  we  not 

''still  be  joined  in  heart,"  when  we 
meet  again, 

And  perfect  love  and  friendship  reign, 
Through  all  eternity? 

Dr.  Timothy  Dwight. 

With  the  Heaven  of  heavens  we 
have  a  continual  and  most  import- 
ant concern.  This  glorious  and  de- 
lightful world  is  the  place  to  which 
all  our  ultimate  views  are  directed 
by  our  Maker ;  the  home  to 
which  he  invites  us  to  look  as  our 
final  rest  from  every  trouble,  and 
the  final  seat  of  all  the  enjoyments 
which  we  are  capable  of  attaining. 
(218) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


With  its  inhabitants  we  shall,  if  we 
are  wise,  become  familiarly  ac- 
quainted, and  intimately  united,  and 
shall  live  in  the  midst  of  them, 
through  ages  which  can  not  end. 

Rev.  Ezra  Keller,  D.  D. 
On  the  1 8th  of  February,  in  the 
year  1546,  the  great  Luther  closed 
his  eventful  career,  in  the  63rd 
year  of  his  age.  How  happy  will 
I  be  to  meet  this  man  of  God  in 
glory,  to  hear  him  recount  his 
trials,  and  the  progress  of  Divine 
grace  in  his  heart,  and  the  lead- 
ing Providence  in  his  useful  life. 
May  my  life  be  as  humble,  if  pos- 
sible, as  useful,  and  its  close  as 
peaceful  as  his. 

(219) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Rev.  Albert  Barnes,  D.  D. 

When  we  part  from  our  friends 
we  should  cheerfully  and  confident- 
ly commit  them  to  the  protection 
of  the  God  whom  they  serve,  and 
remember  that  the  parting  of  Chris- 
tians, though  for  life,  will  be 
short ;  and  the  blessedness  of  that 
future  meeting  will  be  greatly 
heightened  by  all  the  sorrows  and 
self-denials  of  separation  here,  and 
by  all  the  benefits  which  such  a 
separation  may  be  the  means  of 
conveying  to  a  dying  world.  That 
mother  will  meet  with  joy,  in  heav- 
en, the  son  from  whom,  with  many 
(220) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


tears,  she  was  sundered  when  he 
entered  on  a  missionary  life;  and, 
surrounded  with  many  ransomed 
heathen,  heaven  will  be  made  more 
blessed  and  eternity  more  happy. 


(221) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Heaven. 

Negative  Features, 

Positive  Features, 

or  the  Things  that 

or  the  Things  that 

Will  Not  be  There. 

Will   be  There. 

Indestructible. 

The  city  of  our  God — the 

Undefilable. 

heavenly  Jerusalem. 

Unchangeable. 

Beautiful  waters. 

No  crying. 

Delicious  fruits. 

No  tears. 

Sure  healing  for  the  nations. 

No  pain. 

Populous  with  happy  people. 

No  sorrow. 

Beautiful  garments. 

No  death. 

Enchanting  music. 

No  burning  sun. 

Devout  worship. 

No  cold  nor  heat. 

A  just  Ruler. 

No  night. 

An  eternal  kingdom. 

No  hunger. 

The  grandest  capitol. 

No  thirst. 

Many  mansions. 

No  bad  men. 

We  shall  be  kings  and  priests 

No  sin. 

unto  God,  and  shall  reign 

No  curse. 

forever  and  ever. 

(222) 


B.  PLOCKHORST. 


CHRISTrTHE  CONSOLER 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Selections  from  the  Poets. 

Most  Christians  have  sung  the 
doctrine  of  recognition  in  public 
and  private  worship,  perhaps  with- 
out thought  or  reflection  on  the 
consoling  truths  they  were  singing. 
We  conclude  the  volume  with 
selections  from  the  poets,  including 
both  sacred  hymns  and  other  poet- 
ical gems ;  and  we  feel  assured 
that  they  will  find  an  echo  in  the 
hearts  of  our  readers. 

Home  Sweet  Home. 

^H^ID  scenes  of  confusion  and  creature 

complaints, 
How  sweet  to  my  soul  is  communion  with 

saints, 

(225) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


To  find  at  the  banquet  of  mercy  there's 
room, 

And  feel  in  the  presence  of  Jesus  at  home ! 
Home,  home,  sweet,  sweet  home! 
Prepare  me,  dear  Savior,  for  glory,  my  home. 


Jerusalem,  the  Golden. 

Jerusalem,  the  Golden, 

Methinks  each  flower  that  blows 
And  every  bird  asinging 

Of  thee  some  secret  knows. 
I  know  not  what  the  flowers 

Can  feel  or  singers  see. 
But  all  these  summer  raptures 

Are  prophecies  of  thee. 

Jerusalem,  the  Golden, 

When  sunset's  in  the  west. 

It  seems  thy  gate  of  glory. 
Thou  city  of  the  blest ! 
(226) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


And  midnight's  starry  torches, 
Through  intermediate  gloom, 

Are  waving  with  their  welcome 
To  thy  eternal  home. 

Jerusalem,  the  Golden, 

Where  loftily  they  sing. 
O'er  pain  and  sorrows  olden 

Forever  triumphing ; 
Lowly  may  be  thy  portal 

And  dark  may  be  thy  door, 
The  Mansion  is  immortal — 

God's  palace  for  his  poor. 


5^ND  let  our  bodies  part, 
To  different  climes  repair; 

Inseparably  joined  in  heart, 
The  friends  of  Jesus  are. 


O  that  our  heart  and  mind 
May  evermore  ascend, 
(227) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


That  haven  of  repose  to  find, 
Where  all  our  labors  end; 

Where  all  our  toils  are  o'er, 
Our  sufferings,  and  our  pain. 

Who  meet  on  that  eternal  shore 
Shall  never  part  again. 

Oh  happy,  happy  place. 

Where  saints  and  angels  meet; 

There  we  shall  see  each  other's  face, 
And  all  our  brethren  greet. 

— Charles  Wesley. 


'^HE  saints  on  earth  and  those  above 
But  one  communion  make; 

Joined  to  our  Lord  in  bonds  of  love. 
All  of  His  grace  partake. 

One  family,  we  dwell  in  Him, 
One  church,  above,  beneath: 
(228) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Though  now  divided  by  the  stream, 
The  narrow  stream  of  death. 

One  army  of  the  living  God, 
To  His  commands  we  bow; 

Part  of  the  host  have  crossed  the  flood, 
And  part  are  crossing  now. 

— Doddridge. 


^JQLEST   hour,   when   virtuous  friends 
shall  meet. 

Their  earthly  sorrows  o'er; 
And  with  celestial  welcome  greet. 

On  an  immortal  shore. 

The  parent  finds  his  long  lost  child; 

Brothers  on  brothers  gaze; 
The  tear  of  resignation  mild 

Is  changed  to  joy  and  praise. 


(229) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Each  tender  tie,  dissolved  with  pain, 
With  endless  bliss  is  crowned; 

All  that  was  dead  revives  again, 
All  that  was  lost  is  found. 

— Houghton. 


'^HERE  is  a  place  of  sacred  rest, 

Far,  far  beyond  the  skies, 
Where  beauty  smiles  eternally, 

And  pleasure  never  dies; — 
My  Father's  house,  my  heavenly  home, 

Where  "many  mansions"  stand. 
Prepared  by  hands  divine  for  all 

Who  see  the  better  land. 

In  that  pure  home  of  tearless  joy 
Earth's  parted  friends  shall  meet. 

With  smiles  of  love  that  never  fade, 
And  blessedness  complete; 
(230) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


There,  there  adieus  are  sounds  unknown, 
Death  frowns  not  on  that  scene; 

But  life  and  glorious  beauty  shine, 
Untroubled  and  serene. 

— Trumbull. 


'^HE  following   beautiful   poem  is 
from  Bickersteth's  Home  Call. 
Bickersteth's   comment  on  it  is  as 
follows : 

The  poem  that  follows  on  the 
home-call  of  a  tradesman's  child, 
whom  her  mother  fondly  called  her 

little  comforter," — for  she  was  the 
sunbeam  of  her  sick-room — proved, 
I  know,  the  very  balm  of  Gilead 
to  the  stricken  heart  for  which  the 
lines  were  penned: — 
(231) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


My  Little  Comforter. 

*jj  MAY  not  guard  my  darling's  sleep, 

Beside  her  bed  to-night, 
Only  the  stars  o'er  her  shall  keep 

Their  watch  till  dawn  of  light; 
But  in  the  land  of  endless  day, 

The  land  where  she  is  gone, 
They  never  need  nor  sun  nor  star. 

For  God  is  light  alone. 

The  little  pattering  feet  which  made 

Such  music  for  me  here, 
I  know  are  by  the  angels  led 

By  streams  of  water  clear. 
I  know  that  to  my  darling's  hands 

A  harp  of  gold  is  given, 
And  that  the  voice  now  hush'd  for  me 

Has  learnt  the  songs  of  heaven. 


But  oh,  the  silence  in  our  home, 
The  weary,  aching  pain, 
(232) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


The  longing  that  we  may  not  quell, 

To  call  her  back  again; 
One  hand  of  love  can  dry  our  tears, 

One  pierced  hand  alone, 
One  only  voice  can  bid  us  say, 

"Father,  Thy  will  be  done." 


Oh  no,  I  would  not  bring  her  back 

To  this  poor  world  below, 
I  know  whose  voice  has  call'd  her  home. 

And  I  will  let  her  go. 
For  many  a  storm  of  grief  may  rise 

To  cloud  our  heavenward  way. 
But  in  her  home  so  passing  fair. 

All  tears  are  wiped  away. 


And  when  my  time  of  tears  is  o'er. 

My  weary  journey  done. 
When  in  the  land  where  crowns  are  given, 

My  cross  I  shall  lay  down, 
(233) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


When  through  the  golden  gates  of  heaven 

The  angel  songs  I  hear, 
My  little  comforter  shall  be 

The  first  to  greet  me  there. 


*|JjQJHEN  I  consider  life  and  its  few  years, 
A  wisp  of  fog  betwixt  us  and  the  sun ; 
A  call  to  battle  and  the  battle  done 

Ere  the  last  echo  dins  within  our  ears; 

A  rose  choked  in  the  grass ;  an  hour  of  fears ; 

The  gusts  that  past  a  darkening  shore  do 
beat ; 

The  burst  of  music  down  an  unlistening 
street ; 

I  wonder  at  the  idleness  of  tears. 
Ye  old,  old  dead,  and  ye  of  yesternight, 
Chieftains  and  bards,  and  keepers  of  the 
sheep, 

By  every  cup  of  sorrow  that  you  had, 
(234) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Loose  me  from  tears  and  make  me  see 
aright, 

How  each  hath  back  what  once  he  stayed 
to  weep; 

Homer  his  sight,  David  his  little  lad. 

— Lizette  Woodward  Reese. 


*JJ|]mHEN  the  holy  angels  meet  us. 

As  we  go  to  join  their  band, 
Shall  we  know  the  friends  that  greet  us 

In  that  glorious  spirit-land? 
Shall  we  see  the  same  eyes  shining 

On  us,  as  in  days  of  yore? 
Shall  we  feel  the  dear  arms  twining 

Fondly  round  us,  as  before? 


VER  the  river  they  beckon  to  me, 
Loved  ones  who've  crossed  to  the  further 
side; 

The  gleam  of  their  snowy  robes  I  see. 
But  their  voices  are  lost  in  the  hashing 
tide. 

(235) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


There's  one  with  ringlets  of  sunny  gold, 
And  eyes  the  reflection  of  heaven's  own 
blue, 

He  crossed  in  the  twilight  gray  and  cold 
And  the  pale  mist  hid  him  from  mortal 
view; 

We  saw  not  the  angels  who  met  him  there, 
The  gates  of  the  city  we  could  not  see; 
Over  the  river,  over  the  river, 

My  brother  stands  waiting  to  welcome  me. 
*      *      *      *       *       *  * 
Over  the  river  the  boatman  pale 

Carried  another,  the  household  pet; 
Her  brown  curls  waved  in  the  gentle  gale. 

Darling  Minnie!    I  see  her  yet. 
She  crossed  on  her  bosom  her  dimpled  hands 

And  fearlessly  entered  the  phantom  bark ; 
We  felt  it  glide  from  the  silver  sands, 

And  all  our  sunshine  grew  strangely 
dark! 

We  know  she  is  safe  on  the  further  side. 
Where  all  the  ransomed  and  angels  be; 

Over  the  river,  the  mystic  river. 

My  childhood's  idol  is  waiting  for  me. 
(236) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Not  Lost,  hut  Gone  Before. 

This  is  the  title  of  a  beautiful 
hymn  by  Montgomery.  Dr.  Har- 
baugh  makes  the  following  com- 
ment on  it : 

It  is  not  so  much  the  logic  as 
the  life,  which  gives  this  piece 
such  strength  to  win  our  heart. 
We  call  it  beautiful,  and  feel  its 
influence,  without  asking  closely  in 
what  its  strength  lies.  Like  a  real 
friend,  it  bears  acquaintance,  and 
yields  more  richly  in  proportion  as 
it  is  studied.  Thousands  have  loved 
it  who  could  not  tell  why — a  real 
evidence  of  its  excellence — because 
it  lays  hold  of  our  life  deeper 
than  that  part  of  us  which  renders 
a  reason. 

(237) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


^RIEND  after  friend  departs; 

Who  hath  not  lost  a  friend? 
There  is  no  union  here  of  hearts 

That  finds  not  here  an  end: 
Were  this  frail  world  our  final  rest, 

Living  or  dying  none  were  blest. 

Beyond  the  flight  of  time, 
Beyond  the  reign  of  death, 

There  surely  is  some  blessed  clime. 
Where  life  is  not  a  breath ; 

Nor  life's  affections  transient  fire, 
Whose  sparks  fly  upward  and  expire. 

There  is  a  world  above, 

Where  parting  is  unknown; 

A  long  eternity  of  love. 

Formed  for  the  good  alone; 

And  faith  beholds  the  dying  here 
Translated  to  that  glorious  sphere. 

(238) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Thus  star  by  star  declines, 

Till  all  are  passed  away, 
As  morning  high,  and  higher  shines. 

To  pure  and  perfect  day; 
Nor  sink  those  stars  in  empty  night, 

But  hide  themselves  in  heaven's  own 
light. 


A  Mother's  Laments 

1[  LOVED  thee,  daughter  of  my  heart; 

My  child,  I  loved  thee  dearly; 
And  though  we  only  met  to  part, — 

How  sweetly!    how  severely! — 
Nor  life  nor  death  can  sever 
My  soul  from  thine  for  ever. 

Thy  days,  my  little  one,  were  few; 

An  angel's  morning  visit, 
That  came  and  vanished  with  the  dew, 

'Twas  here, — 'tis  gone — where  is  it? 
Yet  didst  thou  leave  behind  thee 
A  clue  for  love  to  find  thee. 
14  (239) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Sarah!  my  last,  my  youngest  love, 

The  crown  of  every  other! 
Though  thou  art  born  in  heaven  above, 

I  am  thine  only  Mother! 
Nor  will  affection  let  me 
Believe  thou  canst  forget  me. 

Then — thou  in  heaven  and  I  on  earth — 
May  this  one  hope  delight  us, 

That  thou  wilt  hail  my  second  birth, 
When  death  shall  reunite  us, 

Where  worlds  no  more  can  sever 

Parent  and  child  for  ever. 

— Montgomery. 


Chfistos  Consolaton 

j^EFORE  the  dead  I  knelt  for  prayer, 
And  felt  a  presence  as  I  prayed. 

Lo!    it  was  Jesus  standing  there. 
He  smiled:  "Be  not  afraid!" 

(240) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


"Lord,  Thou  hast  conquered  death,  we 
know; 

Restore  again  to  Hfe,"  I  said, 
"This  one  who  died  an  hour  ago." 
He  smiled:  "She  is  not  dead." 

"Asleep  then,  as  thyself  didst  say: 
Yet  thou  canst  lift  the  lids  that  keep 

Her  prisoned  eyes  from  ours  away!" 
He  smiled:  "She  doth  not  sleep!" 

"Nay  then,  tho'  haply  she  do  wake 
And  look  upon  some  fairer  dawn. 

Restore  her  to  our  hearts  that  ache!" 
He  smiled:  "She  is  not  gone!" 

"Alas!    too  well  we  know  our  loss. 
Nor  hope  again  our  joy  to  touch, 

Until  the  stream  of  death  we  cross." 
He  smiled:  "There  is  no  such!" 

(241) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


"Yet  our  beloved  seem  so  far, 
The  while  we  yearn  to  feel  them  near, 

Albeit  with  Thee  we  trust  they  are." 
He  smiled:    "And  I  am  here!" 

"Dear  Lord,  how  shall  we  know  that  they 
Still  walk  unseen  with  us  and  Thee, 

Nor  sleep,  nor  wander  far  away?" 
He  smiled:  "Abide  in  Me." 

— R.  W.  Raytnond. 


Reunion  in  Heaven. 
*|^|j|^HEN  shall  we  meet  again? 

Meet  ne'er  to  sever? 
When  will  peace  wreathe  her  chain 

Round  us  for  ever? 
Our  hearts  will  ne'er  repose 
Safe  from  each  blast  that  blows 
In  this  dark  vale  of  woes — 

Never — no,  Never! 

(242) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 

When  shall  love  freely  flow, 

Pure  as  life's  river? 

When  shall  sweet  friendship 

glow. 

Changeless  for  ever  ? 

Where  joys  celestial  thrill, 

Where  bliss  each  heart  shall 

fill. 

And  fears  of  parting  chill — 

Never — no,  Never! 

Up  to  that  world  of  light, 

Take  us,  dear  Savior, 

May  we  all  there  unite, 

Happy,  for  ever: 

Where  kindred  spirits  dwell, 

There  may  our  music  swell, 

And  time  our  joys  dispel — 

N ever — no ,  Never ! 

Soon  shall  we  meet  again — 

Meet  ne'er  to  sever; 

Soon  will  peace  wreathe  her 

chain 

Round  us  for  ever: 

(243) 

RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Our  hearts  will  then  repose 
Secure  from  worldly  woes: 
Our  songs  of  praise  shall  close — 
Never — no,  Never! 


The  Dyin§f  Saint  to  His  Soul. 

A  distinguished  Lutheran  divine 
informs  us,  that  several  years  ago, 
while  lying  in  a  trance  during  his 
sickness,  he  experienced  something 
like  what  is  described  in  the  fol- 
lowing lines  : 

IIJlTAL  spark  of  heavenly  flame! 
Quit,  O  quit  this  mortal  frame: 
Trembling,  hoping,  ling'ring,  flying, 
O  the  pain,  the  bliss  of  dying! 
Cease,  fond  nature,  cease  thy  strife. 
And  let  me  languish  into  life. 

(244) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Hark!  they  whisper;  angels  say, 
"Sister  spirit,  come  away;" 
What  is  this  absorbs  me  quite? 
Steals  my  senses,  shuts  my  sight. 
Drowns  my  spirit,  draws  my  breath! 
Tell  me,  my  soul,  can  this  be  death? 
The  world  recedes,  it  disappears! 
Heaven  opens  on  my  eyes — my  ears 
With  sounds  seraphic  ring! 
Lend,  lend  your  winds,  I  mount!  I  fly! 
O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory? 
O  death,  where  is  thy  sting? 


Sorrow  Not,  Even  as  Others. 

*jjF  death  my  friend  and  me  divide, 
Thou  dost  not.  Lord,  my  sorrows  chide 

Nor  frown  my  tears  to  see ; 
Restrained  from  passionate  excess. 
Thou  bidst  me  mourn  in  calm  distress. 

For  them  that  rest  in  thee. 

(MS) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


I  feel  a  strong,  immortal  hope, 
Which  bears  my  mournful  spirit  up 

Beneath  its  mountain  load; 
Redeemed  from  death,  and  grief,  and  pain, 
I  soon  shall  find  my  friend  again. 

Within  the  arms  of  God. 

Pass  the  few  fleeting  moments  more. 
And  death  the  blessing  shall  restore, 

Which  death  hath  snatched  away: 
For  me,  thou  wilt  the  summons  send, 
And  give  me  back  my  parted  friend, 

In  that  eternal  day! 

— Charles  Wesley. 


Pilgffims  of  the  Nigfht* 

ARK,  hark,  my  soul!  Angelic  songs  are 
swelling 

O'er  earth's  green  fields,  and  ocean's  wave- 
beat  shore: 

(246) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


How  sweet  the  truth  those  blessed  strains 

are  telling, 
Of  that  new  life  when  sin  shall  be  no  more. 

(refrain.) 
Angels  of  Jesus,  angels  of  light, 
Singing  to  welcome  the  pilgrims  of  the  night. 

Onward  we  go,  for  still  we  hear  them  singing, 
Come,  weary  souls,  for  Jesus  bids  you  come; 
And  through  the  dark,  its  echoes  sweetly 
ringing, 

The  music  of  the  gospel  leads  us  home. 

Far,  far  away,  like  bells  at  evening  pealing, 
The  voice  of  Jesus  sounds  o'er  land  and  sea; 
And  laden  souls,  by  thousands  meekly  steal- 
ing, 

Kind  Shepherd,  turn  their  weary  steps  to 
Thee. 

(247) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Angels,  sing  on,  your  faithful  watches  keep- 
ing, 

Sing  us  sweet  fragments  of  the  songs  above ; 
Till  morning's  joy  shall  end  the  night  of 
weeping ; 

And  life's  long  shadows  break  in  cloudless 
love. 

— Frederick  W.  Faber. 


The  Land  Immortal. 

'^HERE  is  a  land  immortal, 

The  beautiful  of  lands, 
Beside  its  ancient  portal 

A  silent  sentry  stands ; 
He  only  can  undo  it, 

And  open  wide  the  door; 
And  mortals  who  pass  through  it 

Are  mortal  never  more. 
(248) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


Though  dark  and  drear  the  passage 

That  leadeth  to  the  gate, 
Yet  grace  attends  the  message, 

To  souls  that  watch  and  wait: 
And  at  the  time  appointed 

A  messenger  comes  down. 
And  guides  the  Lord's  anointed 

From  cross  to  glory's  crown. 

Their  sighs  are  lost  in  singing, 
They're  blessed  in  their  tears; 

Their  journey  heavenward  winging, 
They  leave  on  earth  their  fears; 

Death  like  an  angel  seemeth; 

"We  welcome  thee,"  they  cry; 

Their  face  with  glory  beameth — 
'Tis  life  for  them  to  die! 

— Thomas  MacKellar. 
(249) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


Sweet  to  Die. 

^  IT  is  sweet  to  die — to  part  from  earth — 
And  win  all  heaven  for  things  of  idle  worth ; 
Then  sure  thou  .wouldst  not,  though  thou 

couldst  awake 
The  little  slumberer,  for  its  mother's  sake. 
It  is  when  those  we  love,  in  death  depart, 
That  earth  has  slightest  hold  upon  the  heart. 
Hath  not  bereavement  higher  wishes  taught. 
And  purified  from  earth,  thine  earth-born 

thought  ?  [dear, 
I  know  it  hath.  Hope  then  appears  more 
And  heaven's  bright  realms  shine  brightest 

through  a  tear. 
Though  it  be  hard  to  bid  thy  heart  divide, 
And  lay  the  gem  of  all  thy  love  aside — 
Faith  tells  thee,  and  it  tells  thee  not  in  vain, 
That  thou  shalt  meet  thine  infant  yet  again. 
On  seraph  wings  the  new-born  spirit  flies, 
To  brighter  regions  and  serener  skies; 
And  ere  thou  art  aware  the  day  may  be, 
When  to  those  skies  thy  babe  shall  welcome 

thee. 

(250) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


The  Saints  on  Earth. 
"^HE  saints  on  earth,  when  sweetly  they 
converse, 

And  the  dear  favors  of  kind  heaven  re- 
hearse, 

Each  feels  the  other's  joys,  both  doubly 
share 

The  blessings  which  devoutly  they  compare. 

If  saints  such  mutual  joy  feel  here  below. 

When  they  each  other's  heavenly  fore- 
tastes know. 

What  joys  transport  them  at  each  other's 
sight. 

When  they  shall  meet  in  empyreal  height! 
Friends,  even  in  heaven,  one  happiness 

would  miss, 
Should  they  not  know  each  other  when  in 

bliss. 

— Bishop  Ken. 

(251) 


RECOGNITION     OF  OUR 


When  God  with  Prophets  Spake. 

H,  wondrous  times! — those  palmy  days 
of  old;— 

When  God  with  prophets  spake,  and  angels 
walk'd 

With  men — when  heaven,  with  mild  and 

radiant  eye, 
Through  dreams,  and  types,  and  shadowy 

visions  look'd. 
And  smiled  on  all  who  sought  a  better  life. 
Though  darkly  hung  the  mystic  veil  that 

hid 

The  better  world;  yet,  through  it,  faith 
beheld. 

On  the  celestial  side,  the  lovely  forms 
Of  sainted  friends  in  blessed  pastimes  move. 
They  mourn'd,  but  still  in  hope,  for  those 
beyond ; 

And,  smiling  through  their  tears,  in  meek- 
ness said. 

They  cannot  come  to  us,  but  we  shall  go 
To  them. 

(252) 


THE  ASCENSION. 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


My  Savior  First  of  AIL 

*J^|j^J^HEN  my  life's  work  is  ended, 

And  I  cross  the  swelling  tide, 
When  the  bright  and  glorious  morning  I 
shall  see; 

I  shall  know  my  Redeemer  when  I  reach 
the  other  side 
And  His  smile  will  be  the  first  to  welcome 
me. 

(Chorus :) 

I  shall  know  Him,  I  shall  know  Him, 
And  alone  by  His  side  I  shall  stand. 

I  shall  know  Him,  I  shall  know  Him, 
By  the  print  of  the  nails  in  His  hand. 

Oh  the  soul-thrilling  rapture  when  I  view 
His  blessed  face, 
And  the  lustre  of  His  kindly  beaming 
eyes; 

(255) 


FRIENDS      IN  HEAVEN 


How  my  full  heart  will  praise  Him  for  the 
mercy,  love  and  grace, 
That  prepares  for  me  a  mansion  in  the 
skies. 

Oh  the  dear  ones  in  glory  how  they  beckon 
me  to  come. 
And  our  parting  at  the  river  I  recall; 
To  the  sweet  vales  of  Eden  they  will  sing 
me  welcome  home. 
But  I  long  to  meet  my  Savior  first  of  all. 

To  the  gates  of  the  city  in  a  robe  of  spot- 
less white. 
He  will  lead  me  where  no  tears  will  ever 
fall; 

In  the  glad  song  of  angels  shall  I  mingle 
with  delight; 
But  I  long  to  meet  my  Savior  first  of  all. 

(256) 


